It was mind-numbingly cold Sunday morning. We’re talking 9 degrees. And where were members of the Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps.?
Out on a frozen reservoir at Witek Park, naturally.
The volunteers braved the arctic conditions to brush up on their ice rescue skills during a class taught by Mike Witek, a Storm rescue member who teaches ice rescue classes throughout the Valley.
“If we do it right today, we’ll do it right the day of the rescue,” Witek told about a dozen members.
After using a chainsaw to carve out a hole in the seven-inch thick ice, some of the members took turns donning Mustang Ice Commander suits and jumping in.
Another Storm member would then use a rescue sled attached to a safety line to rescue the victim. Storm members on the shore would then pull in the safety rope to fish out the victim.
Members also practiced with a rescue sling, which stood in for the rescue sled.
Members also had to attempt to pull themselves out of the water — once using ice picks that are stored in the survival suit, and once without.
Witek warned members that potential drowning victims often panic.
“Just be aware they’re going to grab onto you,” he said.
Jim Saldamarco, the newly elected chief of the Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps, said members usually train twice a year for ice rescue.
They’ve been fortunate not to have to many people falling through the ice.
“Actual ice rescues are pretty infrequent. We have to keep up their skills 100 percent,” Saldamarco said.
