VANDERBURGH CO., IN (WFIE) -
Some Indiana police and fire fighter recruits got a chance to get their toes wet this morning.
Recruits from both departments received basic water rescue training.
As new recruits found out Friday morning, water rescues are much different than running into a burning building or helping with a bank robbery.
"I never would have thought to cross the hands to bring them back onto their back and things like that," said police department recruit Christopher Ramirez.
Evansville F.D. Instructor Cpt. Dan Brown said, "Evansville's a water city. It is. A lot of people with pools. A lot of people in creeks. Obviously, the Ohio River is a big deal. We actually do more water rescue than the average person would think we do."
The idea here is to give all officers and firefighters basic water rescue skills, so if they ever need to, they can help while specialists are on the way.
Just like in an emergency, you won't see these guys in swim trunks.
"We want them to realize the way you're dressed has a big bearing on how difficult something may be. So we make it as realistic as we can," said Cpt. Brown.
Ramirez said, "With a swimsuit, air bubbles can escape pretty quickly. But fully clothed and with shoes, it's a lot harder to do."
Both fire and police departments have done this basic water training in the past, but this is the first time the two departments are training together.
"These guys that are going through school, they're gonna be seeing each other for the next 20 years. It will help both agencies learn what the different roles are," said Cpt. Brown.
There were police recruits from all over Indiana at today's training. Including Boonville, Vincennes and Harrison county.
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