White Water Rescue

HARRAH, OKLA. – On Sept. 3, 2023, several staff and students from Oklahoma Academy attended a white water rescue training at Riversport in Oklahoma City. Gideon Rescue Company of Ardmore, Okla., conducted the training. This is the second year the school has been blessed with this unique opportunity. Students learned several practical rescue techniques such as tossing throw bags and swimming across rough water. 

Kory Meidell led the training with the help of Michael Deuhrssen. Meidell is the training officer for Gideon Rescue Company and has over 20 years of experience in search and rescue. 

Twelve Oklahoma Academy students attended the training. The kids enjoyed practicing jumping into rapids and swimming across them. They even had the opportunity to watch Meidell “rescue” one of the complex’s many visitors. Since the training was happening in the same waterway as Riversport’s artificial rafting experience they had to dodge rafts and some kayaks. Sometimes visitors do fall out of one of the many rafts. One such visitor was a young boy. Meidell held out an ore and the boy grabbed it. He got back in his raft and all the students on shore enjoyed the demonstration. 

Thankfully there were no broken bones or concussions at the end of the day. There were a few bruises and sore muscles but all enjoyed the exercise.

Pray for Oklahoma Academy as we strive to train our students to love God and the people around them. God is working everywhere and we are so excited to be a part of it. We also want to say a huge thank you to Meidell and Gideon Rescue Company for providing this training opportunity. 

By Annelise Jagitsch