What We Do
Specialized teams trained to respond to a wide range of emergencies across Putnam County.
Medical
The First Responders are a group of medically trained individuals who are Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Emergency Medical Responders. These people respond when there will be a delay from EMS or if the call warrants extra medical personnel. This program was created in October 2010. Responders are required to complete a certain amount of training every year. Each responder is provided with a medical bag based on their training level, consisting of medical supplies and oxygen.
Water
The Swift Water Rescue program is a team of professionally trained water rescue personnel who received their training on the Ocoee and Hiwassee Rivers in East Tennessee. This team is capable of working in fast-moving water — such as flooded creeks, roads, or larger rivers — to remove people who have become trapped in their vehicles or homes due to rising waters. Over the past few years this team has seen a significant increase in calls for service in Putnam County and throughout Middle Tennessee.
Water
The Dive Team provides underwater search, rescue, and recovery in the lakes, rivers, and waterways of Putnam County and surrounding areas. Trained divers work in low- and zero-visibility conditions to locate and recover victims, vehicles, and evidence, supported by the squad's dive boats and dedicated dive trailer.
Technical
The Putnam County Tactical Rope Rescue Team is a dedicated, highly trained group ready to respond at a moment's notice to the most challenging of rescues. Members are trained in up-to-date methods by state instructors and use NFPA-certified rescue equipment. They are able to perform difficult rope rescues in challenging environments including, but not limited to, high-angle cliff and bluff rescues, cave rescues, sinkhole rescues, technical swift water rescues, and industrial rescues.
Technical
The Trench, Structural Collapse, and Confined Space Team is a unique team trained to rescue victims from a variety of accidents. This team has undergone vigorous training to ensure they can rescue a victim while maintaining safety for themselves, other team members, and the victim. This team is especially used in the event of major structural damage from severe weather.
The squad conducts ground and wilderness search and rescue for missing and lost persons across Putnam County's rugged and densely wooded terrain. SAR operations combine trained search teams, GPS land navigation, and the squad's drone unit — whose thermal cameras can locate a missing person in minutes — to cover difficult ground quickly and guide rescue crews safely to those in need.
The Drone Unit is the squad's newest program, established in 2024. The unit deploys unmanned aircraft for search and rescue, scene size-up, and overwatch of crews working in dangerous environments. Beyond the squad's own operations, the unit assists local fire departments on structure and brush fires, supports SAR operations, and provides safety overwatch at public events. The team's drones carry FLIR thermal cameras, a search light, and a loudspeaker, and can drop a small payload — such as medical supplies, a radio, or a life jacket — to a located person while rescue teams make access. The unit is staffed by FAA-licensed (Part 107) pilots, with additional members in the licensing process.
The Rescue Squad does several things that do not fall neatly into one team. This includes assisting the Emergency Management Agency during severe and inclement weather, supporting Emergency Medical Services with manpower when requested, and reaching patients during winter snowstorms when ambulances cannot get through. Rescue Squad personnel also volunteer to help with community events and fundraisers where extra crews are needed to block streets or direct traffic.
New members are trained from the basics up. Reach out to learn about the new-hire orientation process and the teams you can serve on.
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