The Underwater Search and Rescue team affiliated with Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department completed its camp training and returned to Malatya. The Underwater Search and Rescue team, which participated in camp training in Antalya and Aydın provinces this year, also worked on new techniques during the 15-day training.
Giving information about the camp training in which the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Underwater Search and Rescue team participated, Fire Department Head Mustafa Katipoğlu said that the camp training is carried out periodically every year. Katipoğlu said, “In addition to the routine activities of our Underwater Search and Rescue team, one of the most established teams in Turkey, established within the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department, their training continues. They continue their sea training every year at the end of the season, between autumn and winter. This year, our teams carried out a five-day sea training in the Three Islands Region of Antalya Kemer district. Then, they spent a very tiring and fast-paced ten-day camp at Aydın Didim District Police Training Camp. Especially in these trainings, our friends worked on newly developed techniques regarding deep diving, anesthesia testing, fast boating techniques, and the re-evaluation of search and rescue techniques. Our friends completed this training by constantly improving themselves in subjects such as navigation, using a compass, rope search and rescue, and how to use a guide rope. At the end of approximately 15 days of training camp, our team returns to Malatya and continues its services. Our team within the Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department consisted of 8 people, including me. This year we included another young friend. It was a team of 9 people. On the other hand, we are building young and dynamic teams. We will continue to increase the number of our team by including young people.
'THE PERSONNEL IN OUR TEAM DO NOT JUST WORK AS DIVERS'
Our personnel in our Underwater Search and Rescue team do not just work as divers. All our personnel in the Underwater Search and Rescue team have different duties in the fire department. I am also a diver. While I am carrying out my duty as the Head of the Fire Department, I am also taking part in a possible incident. Our colleagues from other units who are fire fighters or work in the clerk department also perform these duties voluntarily, in addition to their primary duties.
We do not want drowning incidents to occur, but our friends intervene in these cases very quickly. Loss of life underwater results in death very quickly. The number of drowning cases in Malatya is decreasing every year. I would especially like to thank our teachers, mothers and fathers for following the children and warning them about these issues. Our warnings alone are not enough. The warnings of teachers, parents and adults are very valuable to us. For this reason, we thank everyone,” he said.