Thomas County, Georgia- July 17, 2012

Local firefighters took a dip in the pool on Wednesday as part of their latest training course.

The Thomas County Fire Rescue team suited up in all of their gear and practiced rescue techniques in the water.

Training officer Paul Wittenborn says for years, there's been a myth that falling into water with your productive gear on would cause someone to sink and drown.

This class was to prepare the firefighters for the worst case scenario.

"We don't want to lose anyboody if this does happen and this way they're familiar with being in the water with their productive on," Wittenborn said. "It gives them the confidence in their gear."

The course also went over which gear firefighters should keep on, and which gear they should ditch if do they find themselves in a water rescue situation.