Box 21 Rescue Squad APBA Region 6 Rescue Team

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APBA Region 6

The American Power Boat Association (APBA) is the sanctioning body for power boat racing in the United States of America. The country is divided into several geographical areas and Region Six includes Ohio, Michigan and Northern Kentucky. The sport is also divided into classifications such as outboard, inboard, offshore and personal watercraft.

The 1987 the inboard Safety Committee of APBA's Region Six decided a more uniform and consistent method of rescue for races was needed. They recommended the formation of a Region Water Rescue Safety Team that could provide the needed services at each race in the region. It was felt that their own team could provide the consistency of rescue that was required to ensure the safest racing environment at any race site. His or her own team would know the safety equipment used by each boat and driver, thereby saving precious seconds when an accident occurred. This thinking has become more important as many of the new racing craft has incorporated a safety cell where the driver is strapped into the boat. If a boat with one of these new cells turn over, qualified divers are required to rescue the race driver to prevent a drowning situation.

The committee members talked to the racing members of their region, most everyone stated that they felt the safest when they raced at Dayton's Hydrobowl where Box 12 provided rescue services. After being contacted by the committee chairman Box 21 Rescue Squad agreed to form a water rescue team for the APBA races on a trial basis. It's Board of Directors believed that these activities could provide a basis to keep the Box 21 Dive Rescue Team interested and skill levels high. Since this was a specialized service and Box 21 could not profit from services rendered, Box 21 asked Region Six to fund the team's activities. The Region found a way to fund the team through their Region Safety Fund.

During the 1988 APBA Region Six Spring Meeting Box 21 Rescue Squad was voted as the official Region Six Water Rescue Team. Also appointed was one of Box 21's officers as the Region Safety Director. A 24-foot pontoon rescue boat was purchased, specially modified by Box 21 and paid for entirely by the racers of Region Six. It is used roughly 24 days per year at races and is available to our community the balance of the year were it serves as a platform for the Dive Rescue Team on the larger bodies of water in this area. This special craft made its maiden rescue at the 1988 Toledo Regatta.

The team maintains a complete computerized database on all boats and drivers who race in the region. Data includes medical data on each of the drivers and safety oriented features of each racing craft. The Box 21/Region Six Water Rescue Team has now become nationally known for its leadership in this field. Box 21 retrofitted a donated boat cockpit to serve as a driver rescue trainer. Drivers are able to experience what it is like to be in the water and rescued.