SpokaneCityFire, LLC. Copyright © 2007 - 2008, All Rights Reserved. |
Firefighters on ice
www.helenair.com
Scott Bockman bobbed in the frigid water
of a Helena golf course pond Wednesday
afternoon.
“Help, help,” he yelled to the awaiting
firefighters.
Luckily for all involved, Bockman is a
lieutenant with the Helena Fire Department
and was portraying the part of a victim who
had fallen through the ice into the 34-degree
water. He also was wearing a cold-water
floatation suit.
The firefighters were training with their
ice-rescue sled. Each took a turn to be
the victim, acting accordingly by either
flailing or going limp, and then switched
to be a rescuer.
Capt. Sean Logan said it helps the
firefighters to have direct knowledge
of both scenarios.
Prior to purchasing the sled two years ago, firefighters would walk or crawl on the ice to the
victim, tie a rope around the victim’s torso and then climb on the victim’s back to be pulled to
safety.
With the sled, firefighters can either walk with the apparatus stabilizing them or pull themselves
on the sled by using an oar with a pick on the end of it. If the ice breaks underneath the sled,
the rescuer can continue to glide on the water.
Upon reaching a victim, the rescuer puts a harness, which is attached to the sled, around the
victim’s torso. The rescuer pulls the victim onto the sled and then stands over the victim.
Firefighters waiting on the shore then pull a rope attached to the sled instead of the victim.
“To have something like this at our disposal — safer for the victim and the rescuer — is just
spectacular,” Logan said.
The two main ice-covered areas in the Helena Fire Department’s jurisdiction are the Bill
Roberts Golf Course pond and Spring Meadow Lake, where Helena firefighters first used the
sled to help rescue a boy who had fallen through the ice in March. Ice rescues are usually
multi-agency operations involving firefighters, local law enforcement, search and rescue
members and medical personnel.
“Basically there is no safe ice unless you are in an arena. It’s a risk any time you go out on the
ice,” Logan added.
If someone falls through the ice, Logan said, it is important for all involved to stay calm and call
911 for help. Those people on the shore should not attempt to rescue the person who is in the
water because they will likely become victims themselves.
www.helenair.com
Scott Bockman bobbed in the frigid water
of a Helena golf course pond Wednesday
afternoon.
“Help, help,” he yelled to the awaiting
firefighters.
Luckily for all involved, Bockman is a
lieutenant with the Helena Fire Department
and was portraying the part of a victim who
had fallen through the ice into the 34-degree
water. He also was wearing a cold-water
floatation suit.
The firefighters were training with their
ice-rescue sled. Each took a turn to be
the victim, acting accordingly by either
flailing or going limp, and then switched
to be a rescuer.
Capt. Sean Logan said it helps the
firefighters to have direct knowledge
of both scenarios.
Prior to purchasing the sled two years ago, firefighters would walk or crawl on the ice to the
victim, tie a rope around the victim’s torso and then climb on the victim’s back to be pulled to
safety.
With the sled, firefighters can either walk with the apparatus stabilizing them or pull themselves
on the sled by using an oar with a pick on the end of it. If the ice breaks underneath the sled,
the rescuer can continue to glide on the water.
Upon reaching a victim, the rescuer puts a harness, which is attached to the sled, around the
victim’s torso. The rescuer pulls the victim onto the sled and then stands over the victim.
Firefighters waiting on the shore then pull a rope attached to the sled instead of the victim.
“To have something like this at our disposal — safer for the victim and the rescuer — is just
spectacular,” Logan said.
The two main ice-covered areas in the Helena Fire Department’s jurisdiction are the Bill
Roberts Golf Course pond and Spring Meadow Lake, where Helena firefighters first used the
sled to help rescue a boy who had fallen through the ice in March. Ice rescues are usually
multi-agency operations involving firefighters, local law enforcement, search and rescue
members and medical personnel.
“Basically there is no safe ice unless you are in an arena. It’s a risk any time you go out on the
ice,” Logan added.
If someone falls through the ice, Logan said, it is important for all involved to stay calm and call
911 for help. Those people on the shore should not attempt to rescue the person who is in the
water because they will likely become victims themselves.
|
|
