Crime & Safety

Firefighters 'Break the Ice' in Rescue Training

Personnel from the St. Clair Shores and Harrison Township fire departments trained Wednesday on Lake St. Clair.

Members of the St. Clair Shores and Harrison Township fire departments trained together Wednesday in a simulated ice rescue on Lake St. Clair. 

Ice rescue teams from both departments, along with divers from Harrison Township, practiced rescuing individuals who fell through the ice and needed to be rescued.

The personnel worked together and used the exercise to find strengths and weaknesses in a controlled situation prior to an actual ice rescue along with the polar plunge on Feb. 23 during the Aqua Freeze Festival on the Nautical Mile.

According to the United States Coast Guard, anglers and other winter sports enthusiasts who head out on the ice should follow the following safety tips with the acronym I.C.E.:

Intelligence - know the weather and ice conditions, know and tell a trusted shoreside person where you are going, and know how to call for help. Never go out alone.

Clothing - have the proper clothing to prevent hypothermia. Wear a waterproof exposure suit and a life preserver.

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Equipment - have the proper equipment. Carry two ice picks or screwdrivers, in case you fall in. Use these items to dig into the ice and pull yourself out. They are more effective than bare hands! Carry a whistle or noise maker to alert people that you are in distress. Carry a cellular phone or marine band radio in a waterproof container so that you can call for help if you come across trouble.

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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