Drowning Prompts Suggested Water Rescue Protocol Changes In MoCo

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County first responders are pushing to change their river rescue protocols following the June 4 drowning death of a 16-year-old boy.

Fitz Thomas died while swimming with friends in a Virginia creek off the Potomac River.

When Thomas first disappeared underwater at Goose Creek, his friends panicked and called 911. Their calls bounced to Montgomery County, the jurisdiction that handles water rescues along the Potomac River.

"We're at River Creek, the club in the back," one friend said. "We're like all swimming in the river. We had a friend swimming and he's under the water but we like literally cannot find him."

The friend remained on the phone for nearly nine minutes, offering information about the victim and a description of their location.

Without an exact address, the Montgomery County dispatcher processed the incident as a potential drowning in the Potomac River and sent rescuers to Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp in Poolesville.

The Potomac River is part of Maryland, although Goose Creek, where Thomas was swimming, is in Virginia.

More than 15 minutes after Thomas' friend called, a Montgomery County emergency response supervisor notified Loudoun County officials about a water rescue.

"Just giving you a heads up that we are heading to our Edwards Ferry Boat Ramp for a water rescue," the supervisor said. "There is like six or seven people in the water. One is in distress. And they supposedly have originated at the River Creek Country Club, which is your side, right?"

"Yeah, I think so," a Loudoun County dispatcher answered. "Do you need us to respond or do you want the sheriff's office to respond at all?"

The supervisor in Montgomery County replied: "They are not asking, our units are not asking us. I am just giving you a heads up, kind of, in case you get a call, too."

The dispatcher in Virginia then said: "OK, absolutely, I'll go ahead and let the sheriff's office know, too, so they are aware."

The sheriff's office wouldn't be notified for another 10 minutes, according to The Washington Post.

In the meantime, Thomas' friends found him and performed CPR.

By the time first responders arrived on the scene, more than 35 minutes had passed. Thomas could not be revived.

More than three months after Thomas' death, Montgomery County emergency response officials have presented four recommendations to the County Council's public safety committee. They are as follows:

• A first responder from Virginia will be sent to all Potomac River incidents
• Montgomery County's Emergency Communications Center will be conferenced in on all Potomac River incidents
• Fire and rescue-related questions will be directed to Montgomery County's Emergency Communications Center
• Current Potomac River rescue operation policies will be referred to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Fire Chiefs Committee