Return to the "POINTER VIEW"
                         February 6, 2004

Firefighters cool down during ice rescue

Story and photos by Kathy Eastwood
Staff Writer  

They’re not just for fighting fires anymore. West Point firefighters are trained to protect community members from a variety of mishaps that can occur anywhere on post. That’s why a group of them could be seen on Lusk Reservoir last week, getting a refresher on ice rescues.

Curt Krieger, the fire chief here, said that although the type of rescues they practiced Jan. 26, 27 and 30 are not common occurrences, the numerous bodies of water here make them a possibility.

“Ice rescue is rare, but it is high risk in this area because of children playing or people ice fishing or skating,” he explained. “They can easily hit a weak area and fall through the ice.”

Krieger said that’s why ice rescue, not usually part of firefighters training, is part of the mission here.

“There are three levels of training: Awareness, operations and technical,” he said. “It involves classroom training, learning to use the equipment and practical training.

“All of our firefighters here are technicians,” Krieger added.

“The equipment needed for ice rescue is always available and the firefighters know what it is, where it is and how to use it,” said Chris Reed, the ice rescue instructor.

“The suits they wear for ice rescue is either sealed cell neoprene or nylon shell,” he said. “The neoprene is harder to maneuver in because of the thickness, but it’s buoyant. The nylon shell is lighter and easier to use.”

Reed said to get their certification; firefighters must be able to perform one self-rescue and two victim rescues.

“Firefighters learn to get themselves out of a situation before they learn to rescue others,” he explained. “They must be familiar with the equipment and learn to move around in freezing water where hypothermia can set in within minutes.

“Although the suits are made to last a couple of hours in the water, timing is of the essence in ice rescue,” he continued. “There may be a time we will need to get to the middle of a lake for a rescue and the suits help keep the firefighters afloat, warm and dry until they can reach the victim.”

Most of the ice rescue equipment can be used for other rescue efforts as well, such as swimming accidents, Krieger said.

 “We will get some swimming pool and lake time in this year for training and practice,” he explained. “There are new technologies in safety equipment and technique coming out all the time and we must keep up.”

“When that bell rings, we know we can do it,” Krieger added.