LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Every second counts when someone falls through the ice, as hypothermia can set in quickly and turn deadly.
The Lima Fire Department spent the day at Schoonover Lake conducting ice safety and rescue training. About a dozen firefighters took part, with some entering the icy water while others remained on the ice to practice coordinated rescue efforts.
The training focused on techniques to safely remove someone from frigid water and emphasized teamwork in high-risk situations.
The training focused on techniques to safely remove someone from frigid water and emphasized teamwork in high-risk situations.
This winter’s unusually cold temperatures have created thick ice on area waterways. However, fire officials warn that no ice is ever completely safe. Moving water beneath the surface can create weak spots that may not be visible, increasing the risk of someone falling through.
Captain Matt Parker of the Lima Fire Department explained the difficulty of escaping icy water without assistance.
"It's pretty tough to get it back up out of the water once you're in there, unless you have some other, some other things that help help you, because the ice becomes obviously very slippery, and now you're just as you're trying to pull up, you're just pulling sliding back into the water."
Firefighters used the training to rehearse multiple rescue scenarios, including how to save others and themselves.
Jordan Pughsley, a firefighter medic with the department, said the hands-on practice is essential.
"A number of things. One How to Self extricate. Another one is saving a unconscious victim, saving a conscious victim. Just a number of tools that we need in the toolbox for situations that may or may not arise."
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, there is no such thing as 100-percent safe ice. Officials recommend wearing a life vest underneath winter clothing when venturing onto frozen waterways. They also advise going out in pairs and informing someone of your planned location and return time.
Fire officials say preparation and awareness can make the difference between life and death in an ice emergency.
