WATERCRAFT RESCUE INNOVATOR SHAWN ALLADIO TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPEAN TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE

Annual Italian conference focus is on all forms of transportation

TUSTIN , CALIF. , (2/26/2009) – Orange County, California based Shawn Alladio has been asked to present information about personal watercraft (PWC) rescue organization, training programs and technical elements of using PWC for water rescue.

This year’s Italian International Conference on Safety in Transportation (ICOSIT) will be oriented primarily to land and marine transportation issues. K38’s expertise in quick response under normal conditions of water safety as well as major disasters on or adjacent to bodies of water lead to Alladio’s invitation.

Alladio’s company, K38 Rescue, has been involved in the practice of water rescue service and the training of water rescue specialists in the use of PWC for nearly two decades. Alladio and members of her international network of K38 rescue affiliates have provided water safety services for a variety of international events including surfing contests and PWC races. Alladio organized and conducted several days of disaster rescue work using PWC in New Orleans in 2005 immediately following hurricane Katrina. Her work in the flooded portions of that city were recognized in a human interest story in New Yorker magazine.

For the past several years Alladio’s K38 Rescue organization has enjoyed the use of Kawasaki JET SKI watercraft as part of a sponsorship arrangement with Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. With these JET SKI watercraft K38 has managed the water safety and course marshal responsibilities for the International Jet Sport Boating Association World Finals championships. Alladio has also developed a national professional association, H2O Responders as part of the American Watercraft Association.

At the ICOSIT Alladio will be presenting an overview of these professional boating safety and rescue initiatives. She will also provide in-depth briefings about organizing professional training for the use of PWC by boating rescue agencies.

In 2009, K38 Water Safety celebrates 20 years of service to recreational, occupational and event management water safety and education! K38 has trained thousands of personnel from fire rescue, lifesaving, military, law enforcement and search and rescue agencies and is the worldwide recognized authority in the occupational use and application of Personal Watercraft. K38 is represented through accredited affiliates in 14 countries worldwide teaching water rescue, racing, officiating, event management, operations, Swiftwater, flood, big wave, towsurfing and industry support using Jet Skis for rescue or patrol applications. K38 is founded by Shawn Alladio a professional IJSBA racer for 2 decades, National Safe Boating Council instructor and water rescue professional. K38’s motto is ‘The Life You Save May Be Your Own’

www.K38WaterSafety.com

K38rescue@aol.com

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Firebrigades, Swiftwater, Helicopter winches and K38 UK PWC Rescue Training

In early Febuary 2009 K38 UK was asked to attend a training workshop organised for various teams from the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Hosted by Merseyside Fire and Rescue on the Menai Strait K38 UK Instructor Ben Granata demonstrated the rescue capabilities of a Personal Watercraft (PWC) fitted with a rescue board (often referred to as a Rescue Watercraft or RWC).

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Approximately 40 F&R personnel from 8 different brigades took part in the training workshop held in the stunning countryside along the Menai Stait which separates mainland Wales from the island of Anglesey.

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Not only did K38 UK deliver basic training sessions to the Fire and Rescue Personnel who attended this Swift water and boat handling training workshop but Ben Granata K38 UK Instructor also provided safety cover for the night search operation and an exercise with a Sea King Helicopter.

Personal Watercraft or Rescue Watercraft as they are referred to in a rescue capacity are a valuable Swiftwater and Flood rescue tool but are often overlooked due to the stigma that surrounds these unique craft. K38 International offers a recognised and respected training program that is delivered throughout the world by a dedicated team of International Affiliates. K38 founder Shawn Alladio has dedicated her life to developing and implementing rescue training using PWC’s and recently celebrated her 20th anniversary working with many rescue agency’s both in the USA and worldwide. The network of K38 International Affiliates deliver the high standard of training developed by Shawn Alladio to rescue professional in both Ocean and swiftwater/flood environments. The ‘K38 Way’ of training was developed by Alladio from her real world rescue experiences and over 30 years of operating Personal Watercraft. Each year the K38 International Affiliates attend a K38 International Summit where they develop training and rescue techniques to continually keep the ‘K38 Way’ up to date with latest changes in craft design and equipment available to a rapidly developing rescue market.

The culmination of the session on the Menai Strait was a training exercise with an RAF Sea King Helicopter. K38 UK provided a safety presence whilst the Sea King winch man was lifted on and off the inflatable boats. It was the curiosity of the Sea King crew as to whether it was possible to lift a person from a PWC that saw K38 UK Instructor Ben Granata pick up the Sea King Winch man for a briefing on how to correctly position himself and safety considerations whilst working with a PWC’s.

The winch man reciprocated with the equivalent safety information and the exercise was underway. The task was completed successfully on the first attempt however there are very few images available because the inflatable boat couldn’t match the speed of the PWC .

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