Tulsa Fire Department, Gathering Place staff host joint rescue training sessions

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa Fire Department and Gathering Place trained together to make the park safer for the community.

So many families go to Gathering Place everyday to use the playgrounds, take a walk, or hop in the water on a boat. If something goes wrong in or around the water, however, the Tulsa Fire Department and park staff are trained to help.

The two groups wrapped up a 3-day training Thursday made up of about 36 firefighters from the TFD Rescue Task Force and a few dozen Gathering Park staff. TFD Rescue Coordinator Terry Sivadon told FOX23, “we really didn’t tell anyone what the scenarios were so they could act on their feet.” Sivadon said each day focused on a different scenario:

if someone dives into the shallow water off a dock and gets hurt
if a worker falls into the water off a steep slope while on the job and goes unconscious
if someone is out on a boat has a medical emergency and falls into the water

For firefighters, Sivadon said, “it’s a good refresher for them on their skills, but also getting more familiar with the park and access and things like that.” For park staff, Gathering Place’s Director of Safety Jimmy Cruz said, “what we focus on the most is try to get as much information as possible so we can get that information to 911 dispatchers so they can relay it to the responders.”

And, “making sure we pick the right route and then also clear out any pathways or anything that we need to do from a crowd control perspective to make sure that they get here as quick as possible,” said Cruz. Cruz said park staff also trains with local bike patrol officers and goes through active shooter training to keep people at the park as safe as possible.

This was the second year for this joint training.

Free boat rentals at Gathering Place are open Friday through Monday from 9 to 2 p.m. until October 24.

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