Training for Trouble: Ice Rescue Edition

Posted on by farlane
Training for Trouble by South Haven Area Emergency Services

Training for Trouble by South Haven Area Emergency Services

Preparedness for all kinds of emergency situations is vitally important for first responders. While the fantastic forms wrought by wind & water draw folks onto Great Lakes ice, they also risk creating nightmare scenarios for rescue. South Haven Area Emergency Services shared these photos from the other day when several staff donned cold water suits and ventured into frigid Lake Michigan and onto the ice formations along the shoreline to practice rescue techniques.

Here’s a few more photos from the training and another from an actual rescue of a person fell who while on the Lake Michigan ice shelf approximately 100 yards offshore! Follow them on Facebook for the latest.

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Michigan Beach Fashion: February Edition

Posted on by farlane

South Haven Area Fire-Rescue-EMS by William Dolak

South Haven Area Fire-Rescue-EMS by William Dolak

We’re getting to the portion of the winter where the ice begins to build out on the Great Lakes. As a person who grew up on Lake Michigan, I’ve enjoyed the ice safely for decades & will undoubtedly continue to do so and also to share photos of the incredible beauty of the frozen lakes. I want to make sure however that folks understand venturing on the ice in winter can be deadly, particularly if you don’t take precautions. Though EMT workers know this and train to help people in peril, if you fall into one of the Great Lakes, you will very probably die. You can read more of my thoughts on this post on Michigan in Pictures.

Bill took this last weekend in South Haven & writes:

It’s 16 degrees at the beach – this is what the cool kids are wearing on South Beach, South Haven. These three are with the South Haven Area Fire-Rescue-EMS and were out to practice a little cold-water rescue, ‘cuz, unfortunately, someone is gonna need it sooner or later.

See the photo bigger in our Michigan in Pictures Group on Facebook & for sure follow him on Flickr!

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