Ice and water rescue training
CLAYTON, N.Y. -- "We just want to be prepared for anything that might happen,” said Dale Harvey, Clayton Fire Chief.
Emergency responders from across Jefferson County teamed up this weekend to freshen up on their ice and water rescue skills. Clayton Fire Chief Dale Harvey said just a few weeks ago they had to rescue two women who went for a walk out on the ice.
"There wasn't much ice and we were called to go get them and rescue them off the ice. So they need to be aware that you just can't look at the ice and think it's safe enough without drilling a couple holes or whatever to make sure there's ice out there,” said Harvey.
This time of year emergency officials said they start to respond to more ice rescues. When the weather goes from cold to warm to cold again it starts to weaken the ice. So if people do plan on stepping out onto the ice officials are simply urging them to use caution. But if you are out on the ice and it breaks through, emergency responders say the best thing to do is stay calm and don't panic.
"Actually if they feel they cannot get up on top of the ice and that they have seen that somebody is going for help to actually almost ball up. Cross their legs, keep their arms tight in and though their clothing is wet it will still act as insulation and the body heat of you will warm the water that's with you so that, that will buy you some more time,” said Mark Knowles, Jefferson County STAR Team Dive Commander.
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Knowles said thrashing around and panicking will only make things worse.
As for this weekend's training, it's something the departments do each year to make sure that they're ready and equipped to work together for whatever calls they may have to respond to.
The Clayton fire department was also training its staff on their fairly new air boat. It was donated to the department last summer by one of its volunteers.