Divers and rescue swimmers with fire and EMS agencies across the southern Rhode Island shoreline rushed into the waters of Weekapaug Overlook in late September, battling the choppy Atlantic waves as they simulated saving a drowning victim just off the rocky shoreline.
Challenged by rough surfs and strong tides, the response was only a drill but provided an opportunity for participants from across the region to brush up on individual skills and work with first responders across the region in a non-emergency setting. The training, one of three courses that were offered this year through a partnership with Ocean Rescue Systems International, gave responders a hands-on look on what a worst-case scenario might look like.