Side Scan Training for Law Enforcement and Government Agencies

News Release JW Fishers Manufacturing Inc. October 2, 2012

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<DIV> Many public safety dive teams, police and
sheriffs departments, and government agencies are acquiring side scan sonar
systems to assist in their underwater search and survey operations. Side scan is
the ideal tool for these operations because it produces detailed images of the
underwater environment regardless of water clarity. In addition, the sonar is
able to search large areas quickly, scanning several hundred feet of ocean,
lake, or river bottom with each pass of the boat. Side scan can easily locate a
variety of targets including sunken boats, submerged vehicles, and drowning
victims. It is also an excellent choice for inspection of dams, piers, seawalls,
pipelines, and other underwater structures. 
  
The side scans available today are relatively easy to operate, but there
is a learning curve. Most personnel assigned to run these sonars have no prior
experience using this type of equipment. Although many teams teach themselves
how to use a side scan, hands-on training provided by experienced operators can
get the team up to speed very quickly. One company now offering sonar training
is Lifeguard Systems in New
York.
Lifeguard was founded by Walt “Butch” Hendrick in the early 1970s. Butch has
devoted his life to teaching diving, rescue, recovery, and diver safety. Over
the past 40 years he has trained thousands of police, fire, EMS,
military, and sport divers across the US and
in 15 other countries. His clients include New
York
Fire Department Rescue Team, members of the FAA, and the US
Parks Department. In 1987 Andrea Zafares joined the Lifeguard team and become
second lead trainer, author, and program creator. Andrea began her career
teaching diving with Dr. Lee Somers and Karl Huggins at the University of
Michigan’s
Scientific Diving Program.  
   
In the last few years the company has received an increasing number of
inquiries for sonar training as more teams  add this
equipment. In response, Mr. Hendrick contacted JW Fishers Mfg, a leading
supplier of side scan systems to these communities. Fishers already had an
in-house course teaching sonar operation to customers, but more 
groups were requesting on-site training, especially those overseas.
Lifeguard was the perfect match to provide these services, and the two companies
agreed to partner in supplying equipment and training 

  
One of the first organizations Lifeguard trained was the North Carolina
Department of Transportation, which has vast responsibilities including
maintenance of the state’s 12,712 bridges. NCDOT purchased Fishers SSS-600K with
adjustable transducers, which makes it possible for the sonar to scan vertical
structures. With this capability the DOT can inspect the supports of any bridge
that crosses over water, or survey an area prior to the construction of a new
bridge.  Owning the sonar allows the department’s engineers to
perform inspections at a moments notice, instead of waiting for a contractor.
Other key features of their system are a Splashproof computer, handy to have
when operating the sonar from a small open boat, and mapping software which
shows the track of the boat moving over the search area and the swath being
scanned.   
  
Another agency that received Lifeguard training is Ulster County Sheriffs
Department located in New
York’s
Hudson
River
Valley.
The sheriffs department acquired Fishers dual frequency
SSS-100K/600K  as it gives them the high resolution needed to
find small targets like drowning victims and weapons, but also the long range
capability to search large areas quickly when looking for sunken vessels or
downed aircraft. A longer cable and a depressor wing were added making it
possible to tow the sonar at depths over 100 feet.
   
Recently the Lifeguard team travelled half way around the world to
provide training in Indonesia.
This southeastern Asian country between Australia and
Malaysia is
an archipelago made up of more than 17,000 islands. The National Search and
Rescue Agency of Indonesia
purchased a quantity of Fishers dual frequency side scan sonars and underwater
video systems for their teams across the country. More than 30 members of the
agency’s search teams were brought together for an intensive Lifeguard training
course covering operation of the various equipment and the best techniques to
perform an effective search. 
   
For more information on Lifeguard Systems go to www.teamlgs.com. For more
information on JW Fishers complete line of underwater search equipment go to
www.jwfishers.com.</DIV></BODY></HTML>