With more ice skaters and fishermen enjoying the winter weather on area lakes the LFR Water Rescue Team is preparing for potential emergencies. Team members got out on Holmes Lake Thursday afternoon to conduct training drills that can make a difference between life or death.
“Anytime you see abnormalities in the ice that can be clues that the ice is either stable or not stable,” says battalion Chief Mark Majors. “There can always be a risk for falling through.”
After cutting holes in the ice Majors says team members put on insulated heavy buoyancy suits and practiced pulling rescue exercises, including pulling victims out of the water. If you plan to be out on the ice make sure you go with someone, have a screwdriver with you to test the thickness of ice and it’s a good idea to have a whistle in cases you have to send a signal for help.
