Tenders on the shore of Crystal Lake get ready to haul a victim out of the water Saturday. They were part of a ice-rescue training session held by the Orleans, Barton and Westmore fire departments. The departments purchased equipment together, trained together and, together, rescued two snowmobilers from Willoughby Lake barely a week ago. Photos by Joseph Gresser
BARTON — The classroom at the Orleans firehouse was darkened, but no one was dozing. The emergency responders gathered for an ice rescue class and exercise knew just how important their studies might be. The rescue, last week, of two snowmobilers from the chill waters of Willoughby Lake captured everyone’s attention.
Instructor Russell Lindemann was reminding members of the Barton, Orleans and Westmore fire departments of the fundamental points of ice water rescue. With the aid of films he showed them how to approach a person who has broken through the ice — from behind, because the person will be clinging to the ice in front of him and a rescuer would break the thin ice and plunge the victim below the surface.
He cautioned potential rescuers that their own safety should be their primary concern. Rescue techniques are employed in the order of increasing danger. In the best case a person can pull himself out of the water. If that is not possible the rescuer should try to help the victim by holding out a pole or other object, while keeping himself in a safe position. Throwing a line is the third best option, Mr. Lindemann said. If there is no other way to help the person, a rescuer can go to his rescue.
“The safest rescue is one where everyone stays warm and dry,” Mr. Lindemann told his students. At all costs, he reminded them, “don’t become another victim.”
After showing his videos and giving his students a short written quiz, Mr. Lindemann led them to Crystal Lake in Barton for a practical exercise.
There a round hole had been cut in the ice and Orleans firefighter Nate Peart waited in his cold-water suit to be rescued. Mr. Lindemann, Chad McCormick of Orleans and Captain Chris McCarthy of Westmore suited up and made their way out the 350 feet to Mr. Peart.
They hauled lines that stretched back to shore, where they were tended by crews standing by to pull the victim from the frigid water.
Jay Ratte of the Orleans department stayed with the tenders, giving them tips and demonstrating how to tie the ropes together so as to reach the victim.
As Mr. McCarthy approached the hole he dropped full-length onto the ice and began to roll toward Mr. Peart. As had been explained in the classroom lecture, Mr. McCarthy was trying to lower his center of gravity and distribute his weight on the ice.
He rolled into the water behind Mr. Peart and clipped a rope around him. Holding onto the victim, Mr. McCarthy signaled the tenders on shore by patting the top of his head three times,
They pulled until they saw the arm wave that told them to stop. The victim must be checked after being rescued, according to Mr. Lindemann, and the rope around him readjusted.
Unlike the typical rescue, this effort ended with Mr. Peart being tossed back into the lake. Another attempt to save him was to be made, this time with a more comfortable device, a padded sling.
Ashore, Mr. Ratte was showing the tenders how to cycle from the back of the rope to the front in order to shorten the distance needed for pulling.
Jay Ratte of the Orleans Fire Department demonstrates how to tie two rescue lines together as Dana Barnett of the Westmore department and Dan Blair of Orleans look on.
“Everyone should stand on the same side of the rope,” he advised.
When everyone on the ice had succeeded in making two rescues, the yellow-suited firefighters trudged back to shore.
Mr. Peart complained of a small leak in his suit. Orleans Chief E.J. Rowell said he would send it back to the manufacturer for repairs.
In addition to training together, the three departments bought their gear together to avoid problems that might be caused by unfamiliar equipment.
There are two Massachusetts snowmobilers who can testify that the departments’ training has certainly paid off.
