COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — While it’s hard to see the good news in cold temperatures, firefighters say it’s the perfect time to jump in local lakes.
“If you fall through that ice you lose the ability to climb out,” a firefighter said.
It’s why Colorado Springs firefighters train in the coldest conditions.
“Throughout the winter, we do respond on rescues either to animals or people that have fallen through the ice,” a fire spokesman said.
Last weekend, crews rescued two dogs that fell through ice at a lake in Colorado Springs. In Parker in January, a teenager died and two others were seriously hurt after falling through ice.
Firefighters say it takes about 4 inches of ice to support a 200-pound person.
So as temperatures plummet, firefighters jump in. They practice dragging a victim from a hole in the ice back to the shore.
And while people become hypothermic in the icy water in minutes, special equipment gives firefighters a little extra time.
“A dry suit like this allows rescuers to stay dry so while I’m performing the rescue I don’t suffer from hypothermia,” a firefighter said.
Firefighters remind everyone to keep pets on a leash and if they do fall through ice, don’t try to rescue them but instead call for help.