Lakewood being bordered by water on two sides, literally half the city, a big part of the Lakewood Fire Department's rescue services are water rescue. With Lakewood being in Northern Ohio, 3 months a year the water can be frozen over. Hence the need for ice rescue.
It seems silly that a 100 yards from where Lakewood Fire Department was practicing ice rescue, families were walking on the ice. While the Fire Department chose the river. The families were walking the thin edge between the shore and open water. While talking with some of the fire department the point was made that the ice they were training on was about an inch thinner than a day ago, because of afternoon temps. While it could still support an average human, it was getting to the point where it might not support 2,3,4 people or a family! The other day driving past Edgewater Beach I saw people 1/10 of a mile out. Today that that is all open water. Chief Dunphy pointed out, it is not illegal to walk on ice, just very foolish. Even along the rocks there are always holes, breaks and slippery spots. And once you are in the water, your strength starts to leave you body in the first 30 seconds!
BE SMART, but if you get in trouble, Call Lakewood Fire Department, they are damn good at what they do.
Let's say you are in the middle of the river, and have fallen through. If you are alert, they will ask questions while throwing you a life line in a bag. When seconds and accuracy matter, Lakewood Fire Department rules!
Fire fighter Seth Andregg takes aim...
The smile of a rescued man!
Pulled out!
They also practice getting in the water to save people.
They go over time and time again how to safely get in the water. After all one person has already fallen through.
Then they all spend time getting used to being in water and ice.
Then they all start over again.
Explaining the facts about ice.
The frosty milky part has no ability to support weight. it is the clearer ice that you need to measure.
Thank you Lakewood Fire Department for all you do.
See all 75 photos at: http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... ctice-2022
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