Page 32 - Highlights for Children (December 2017)
P. 32
DANGER!
Rescue on Thin Ice
Sometimes a firefighter’s job can be cold.
By Carrie Seidel
he doesn’t swallow any water.
a firefighter pulls the ice suit’s Once he bobs to the surface,
hood over his head and zips up he points his feet toward the
Beep! Beep! Beep!
tight. He squats and tugs the lake bottom and burps the suit
hood away from his neck, again. It’s time to pretend he’s
“Engine 55, Truck
“burping” the suit. Air whooshes a victim. He calls for help and
54, Battalion 51,
out. If he doesn’t burp the suit, splashes around.
Safety 51. Ice
the trapped air bubble could
rescue—Lake
make him so buoyant that he’d
Arbor.” 28 steps in:
get stuck beneath the ice.
The crew members of Engine He walks out onto the frozen Ping! Crack! Water
55 drop their dinner forks and lake to play the part of the begins to seep
rush to the fire truck. Someone “victim.” He shivers, but not
on the ice is in danger. from cold. It’s nerve-racking not through the ice.
To prepare for real-life knowing when he’ll fall through!
emergencies like this one, rescue His first several steps away Two more firefighters,
teams must practice. They from the lake’s edge feel solid. attached to the onshore crew
practice putting on ice suits, The ice seems thick. But 28 with ropes, walk onto the lake.
working with ropes, and using steps in: Ping! Crack! Water One of them walks toward the
hand signals to communicate. begins to seep through the ice. “victim” from the side. The other
And once the lake freezes, they He slows down. At 31 steps— walks around the back. They
practice ice rescue. plunk! He plunges through the stay on different parts of the ice
On a training day, ice. He keeps his mouth shut so in case it breaks. One rescuer
32 DECEMBER 2017 Photos by Carrie Seidel, except far right by Kevin Kossow.
