MCDART (Mason County Dive & Rescue Team)

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• How You Can Help:

     MCDART is always looking for committed citizens to volunteer to join our organization and to be a helpful member of the community in times of need. If you think you may be interested or want to find out more, feel free to come to any of our regularly scheduled monthly meetings, as noted on the schedule of events on the MCDART home page.

     The eligibility requirements for joining MCDART as noted in Article IV of the by-laws are as follows:

     An applicant shall be deemed eligible for membership in the Team provided he or she:
     a. Is a citizen of the United States of America.
     b. Is 20 years of age.
     c. Has signed and submitted an application on the form provided by the Team.
     d. Has had a physical examination by a qualified physician within thirty days of the date his or her application is submitted to the Team: said physical examination to be submitted on the form prescribed by and meet the requirements of the Team.
     e. Has successfully demonstrated his or her diving qualifications as set forth in the Team application form to determine eligibility for membership training.
     f. Has paid the initiation fee (for divers and linetenders) of $20.00 in advance.
     g. Has satisfactorily completed the training course and final examination of the Team as prescribed by the Board of Directors.
     h. Is recommended by the Commander and is approved for membership by the Board of Directors.
     i. Possesses a current CPR card.

What kind of people do we need on the team?

- Divers: We need divers who want to help the community. Divers are needed for:
     Search and Rescue: If a victim can be found within an hour of submersion (the "Golden Hour"), there is a chance for survival. The more divers on the team, the faster the response time, the better the chance of a rescue.
     Investigations: MCDART searches for weapons, stolen property, vehicles, and other submerged objects that may have been used in a crime.
     Safety Divers: Anytime a MCDART diver is in the water, we have a Safety Diver standing by. If you choose not to dive for victims, you can still earn your place on the team acting as a Safety Diver.
     Water Safety: MCDART often trains during major water related events, so that we can be on stand by at the location in the event of an accident. We can also be requested in advance by a local, city, county, state or federal agency if their is a need for us to act as safety personnel during an event.
     Training: If you have knowledge that can be passed on to other divers, we can use you.

EACH DIVER DECIDES FOR THEMSELVES WHICH DIVES THEY WILL OR WILL NOT DO. NO ONE IS EVER FORCED TO DIVE ON A CALL THEY ARE NOT COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE WITH.

- Shore Support: Anyone can be shore support. We need shore support for:
     Driving vehicles and boats.
     Equipment rigging.
     Diver tending.
     Line tending.
     To act as downstream safety personnel.
     To assist with family and friends of the victim.
     To interface with other agencies on scene.
     To keep members of the press informed.

- Public events: We need people that can assist with public displays and water safety lectures:
     Public Displays: Boat and sports shows, safety fairs, EMS fairs and more.
     Water Safety Lectures: Schools, private and public organizations and anyone else that may benefit.
     Speaking events: Some organizations want to know more about MCDART and how they can help.
- Management: MCDART has a Board of Directors and various voluntary positions that require different skills.

To become operational and be able to respond to calls as Shore Support, you must:
     1. Attend training that will teach you:
          Incident command system and concepts of team work.
          On scene behavior standards.
          MCDART response procedures.
          To know where the MCDART vehicles are stationed, where the equipment is located in the rigs and how to set up the equipment for the divers.
     2. Submit your application for classification as Shore Support to the Standards & Evaluation Committee and request an operations number from the Operations Officer.
     3. Submit an application for an alphanumeric pager.

To become a diver for MCDART, you must:
     1. Be certified as an Open Water Diver by a nationally recognized certification agency.
     2. Complete a scuba skills evaluation, including:
          SCUBA equipment set-up, donning and buddy checks.
          Giant stride.
          Removal and replacement of weight belt on the surface.
          Removal and replacement of BC on the surface.
          Controlled descent.
          Establishment of neutral buoyancy at depth.
          Mask flood and clear at depth.
          Mask removal and replacement at depth.
          Removal and replacement of weight belt on the bottom.
          Removal and replacement of BC on the bottom.
          Buddy breathing at depth.
          Buddy breathing to the surface.
          Controlled out-of-air ascent.
          Deep water exit.
          Familiarization with the EXO 26 full face mask.
          Familiarization dive with EXO 26.
          Removal and replacement of EXO 26 at depth.
          Out of air simulation with EXO 26 and Spare Air (remove EXO 26, go to Spare Air, controlled ascent).
          Out of air simulation with EXO 26 and safety diver's secondary regulator.
     3. Complete the local dive environment briefing.
     4. Complete Black out mask training.
     5. Complete drysuit training.

Why join?
     If we can get to the victim within one hour of submersion, we may be able to save a life.
     If we can teach a potential victim how to avoid becoming a victim, we can save a life.
     If we can continue to receive the grants and donations that we use each year, we can save thousands of local, state and federal tax dollars by volunteering our time.
     Be a part of helping to make your community a safer place.