Members of the Riverview Fire Department took to icy water this past week for their recertification as ice rescuers.
Deputy Chief of Training Robin Truewood says they train in strategies to help themselves and victims, as well as the various pieces of equipment they have available.
“The Rapid Deployment Craft, which actually has application for both ice rescue and swift water rescue,” says Truewood. “We have a MARSARS board which is basically a board that can slide on the ice that distributes the weight of the firefighter or the victim we’re bringing back to shore more evenly across the ice so we don’t break through.”
He adds they then move on to techniques that include “being able to go out and swim to the person or go out onto the thin ice to get to the person and then use specialty equipment to extricate them from the thin ice or the water.”
Truewood says ice rescuers must be comfortable “wearing the personal protective equipment we have, we call them Mustang Ice Rescue Suits.”
“So they have to be comfortable wearing those and being able to work in the water, and be able to get themselves out if they get themselves into trouble,” says Truewood.
Truewood says new this year they trained with a “reach pole” which helps them grab ahold of victims from the shore.
He adds they have been lucky to not have to carry out an ice rescue for a few years.
(Photo Credit: IAFF Local 2549 Riverview Professional Firefighters)
