MIAMI \u2014 What looks like a perfect day on the water can change in an instant.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s something Captain Giancarlo Polanco and his crew with the City of Miami Fire Rescue know all too well.<\/p>\n
From medical emergencies to boating accidents and rescues, the team aboard the city\u2019s fire boat responds to some of the most dangerous situations on South Florida waterways \u2014 often racing through crowded channels where there are no roads, only waves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re basically a fire truck and a rescue truck on water,\u201d Polanco said.<\/p>\n
As Memorial Day weekend approaches and thousands of boaters prepare to head out across Biscayne Bay and nearby waterways, firefighters expect an increase in marine traffic \u2014 and with it, more emergencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it happens out here, it\u2019s a traumatic cause or highly traumatic,\u201d Polanco said.<\/p>\n
Unlike emergency crews on land, marine firefighters face a unique set of obstacles when responding to calls. Navigating changing weather conditions, heavy boat traffic, and open water can slow response times and complicate rescues.<\/p>\n
Polanco says one challenge is that many people operating boats may have little or no formal boating experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cGen X and, I think, above — basically if you have enough money, you can buy a boat,\u201d he said. \u201cYou got to understand that even if you know what you\u2019re doing, others may not know what they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Onboard the fire boat, the crew carries extensive rescue and medical equipment designed to handle emergencies far from shore. Supplies include medications for cardiac emergencies, IV fluids, oxygen masks and trauma equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have medicine for your heart, we have medicine to speed up your heart, slow down your heart, masks, IVs for dehydration, any kind of blood loss,\u201d Polanco explained.<\/p>\n
Still, he says preparation by boaters themselves can make all the difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best way to give us your location when you get into an emergency is to make sure that you have a GPS,\u201d Polanco said. \u201cIf you have a GPS, we can go directly to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also encourages boaters to check weather conditions before heading out, plan their routes ahead of time, and ensure life jackets and safety equipment are onboard and accessible.<\/p>\n
Simple precautions, Polanco says, can help prevent a fun day on the water from turning into a dangerous situation.<\/p>\n
As South Florida gears up for one of the busiest boating weekends of the year, Miami Fire Rescue crews say they\u2019ll be ready and prepared to respond when help is needed most.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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