B.E.S. responds for underwater rescue and recovery operations throughout the County. The BES Dive Team includes certified Public Safety Divers, Dive Rescue and Ice Rescue Specialists and personnel trained in Current Diving, Underwater Salvage and Recovery operations, Lift Bag and Stage Lift Operations, Sonar and Underwater Photography. B.E.S. has responded for rescue and recovery operations in creeks and drainages throughout the County. The late Spring and early Summer of 1995 were especially noticeable for this type of operation. BES was involved with several swift water rescues that garnered regional, and even national attention.
Weak ice presents a unique hazard in urban, suburban and rural areas.
Nearly all B.E.S. members are certified Ice Rescue Specialists, providing primary rescue and back-up to other agencies when there are victims through the ice. In addition, several of BES's officers are certified Ice Rescue Instructors through Dive Rescue International. B.E.S. provides evacuation of patients to ambulances through low-angle and vertical evacuations. Such techniques have been required for moving victims of vehicle accidents up slopes, out of creek beds and ditches, patients from mine shafts, and a variety of other situations. Rope operations, and in particular, high-line crossing techniques, are also employed extensively in swift water rescue operations.