BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) - Emergency crews in southeast Iowa are training with new equipment in an effort to better prepare for ice rescue missions.
A dozen firefighters took turns submerging into Izaak Walton Lake Wednesday morning as part of annual training, the Burlington Hawk Eye reported (https://bit.ly/Na5sh0 ). They also played the role of victim by wearing special suits while in the water.
The training this year involves a sled that can be paddled or dragged to someone who has fallen through ice. The equipment enables a rescuer to run over very thin ice by distributing his or her weight over a large surface. The “Rescue Alive” sled allows the rescuer to remain in control of the victim without having to crawl or swim to them. It also keeps the victim suspended above the ice once they’re out of the water.
“The sled is a fairly new thing,” said Robert Berndt, a Burlington firefighter and paramedic who led the training session. “It’s like a pontoon boat.”
This is an especially dangerous time of year as warmer temperatures create dangerous conditions, officials said.
“Generally, we’ve found that ice rescues are more common before winter, and around this time of year, due to the ice melting,” Berndt said. “People get so used to going out on the ice during winter for ice fishing, and they forget it’s been 36 or 40 degrees.”
More firefighters are expected to receive training Thursday and Friday. Each shift at the Burlington Fire Department undergoes several hours of training before they get on the ice. There were also personnel from nearby departments at Wednesday’s training.
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Information from: The Hawk Eye, https://www.thehawkeye.com
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