| As temperatures hover around the freezing mark this winter, the ice that forms on the lakes and ponds in Bedford may not be able to handle the weight of animals or people. Should an emergency arise, the Bedford Fire Department has the skills and equipment necessary to handle ice rescues.
On the morning of Saturday, February 17th, several members of the Bedford Fire Department were involved in an early morning ice rescue drill on Blue Heron Lake just off of Pinebrook Road. The goal was to reinforce the different aspects of ice rescue that can occur, including communication, body weight distribution, sled operation and victim recovery.
After making initial cuts with a chainsaw into the ice to ensure the adequate thickness, a larger hole was created to place victims into. Our "victims" were placed in insulated dry suits and tethered to a member on land by a rescue rope for safety. Additional members dressed in dry suits moved out onto the ice with the rescue sled, picks, and harnesses to remove the victim(s) from the water.
Remember, never venture out onto ice unless you can confirm its stability; there is no safe ice. For more information on ice safety, look under the "safety tips" page of our website, or visit Sparky the Fire Dog under our "kids" section. |
