Precautionary measures

Creston firefighters completed their annual ice rescue training Feb. 12 at Summit Lake – a requirement that is necessary according to the department’s policy and to help ensure the safety of Union County residents.

Despite the loss of life to ice-related drownings over the years, the department seldom receives calls for ice rescues.

“It’s considered a high-risk, low-frequency event,” said Casey Carpenter, Creston firefighter.

The last call the department received was 8 p.m. March 7, 2015, after Earl Burkhalter, Charles Critz and James Oshel, all of Creston, failed to return home after a day of ice fishing.

“There’s a lot of risk involved – not just on our end, but on the patient’s end, so that’s why we train on it at least once a year,” said Carpenter.

Volunteer firefighter Daniel Stull said the training is important as Union County is home to a number of lakes and private ponds, which are utilized frequently by local ice fishermen.

As temperatures rise and the sun begins to shine, ice becomes uneven and more unpredictable on area lakes and ponds. However, there are safety measures individuals can take while participating in ice-related activities.

“Know the depth or the thickness of the ice,” said Carpenter. “There’s been events where the ice has been great in the morning, guys go out ice fishing and sit in their shack all day, and when they go to leave, that’s when the event happens. The ice becomes very fragile.”

Carpenter said any ice less than three inches thick is unsafe, but there are a number of precautions one can take.

“Stay away from objects in the water ... jetties, piers ... anything that reflects heat, melts faster and becomes more dangerous around the edges,” said Stull.

Stull also said to avoid the “Goose hole” at Green Valley Lake, where thousands of geese congregate. Additionally, individuals are advised to be aware of any tile outlets or other areas of water run-off, and under or near bridges, where ice, if present at all, erodes at a faster rate.

“If the ice is thin in the morning, don’t go too far out ... check on the ice regularly,” said Carpenter.

Aid

Creston firefighters who’ve completed ice rescue training can be called upon for mutual aid by any department within its mutual aid response area; working in partnership with Afton first responders and the Midwest Regional Dive Team.

The ice rescue team works with the dive team in recovery situations, where a victim is submerged in water.

“Our capabilities are, we can go out on the ice or in the water for a known rescue, which is where we can see the victim with our eyes,” said Carpenter. “Once they go under water, we’re pretty limited on what we can do. We have a pole we can try to grab them with, but at that point of time, it’s better if you can get physically in the water and make a rescue.”

The two-day, 16 hour ice rescue training course provides each participant a three-year certification.