A person has walked out onto the ice to bring in their dog who refuses to walk back to the shore line. About 40 feet out the person’s weight is too much and the ice breaks allowing him to fall into the freezing water. The dog, scared by the commotion, runs to shore. The dog owner has seconds to self-rescue. If not, within minutes of exposure to the icy water, his will to move is gone and soon he could slip under the water. This scenario is all too common around the country during wintry weather. Unfortunately many people die because of a lack of trained personnel in PROPER clothing and TRAINED to do ice rescue. This weekend 30 more firefighters were certified to do this life saving skill. The York County Advanced Technical Rescue Team is a team of 4 fire departments positioned around York County. The Dover Township (Station 9), Yoe (Station 36, Hanover (Station 46) and Shrewsbury Volunteers (Station 61) Fire Departments comprise the specialized rescue team. The departments are trained, equipped and certified in all areas of technical rescue including ice rescue. This weekend team members as well as some personnel from area York County Fire Stations converged on Shrewsbury to be instructed on the proper way to save a life in the icy water. Team Lifeguard Systems provided instructors to discuss and lead personnel through multiple icy rescue practical stations to reinforce existing skills and teach first time rescuers the proper way to do surface ice rescue. Personnel wore specialized ice suits and practiced skills in moving across ice on foot and ice sleds, self-rescue, victim access and safe removal. While the water temps were freezing the attitude and enthusiasm of all the trainees were hot. Two days of learning produced certified rescue personnel in the event the real deal occurs in York County. With this training personnel and equipment are at the ready 24/7 to protect the residents and all who pass through York County as well as surrounding jurisdictions if called.
