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Members Successfully Complete an Ice Rescue Course
By Chief Eddie Godwin
January 14, 2010
Eight members of the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire & EMS attended and successfully completed an Ice Rescue Certification Course on Sunday January 10, 2010. This training was hosted by the Charles County Dive Rescue and the 10th District Volunteer Fire and EMS. Certified by the Dive Rescue International, this training included classroom instruction on 1- Elements of an Ice Rescue, 2- Types of Ice, 3- Victims Condition and Stages of Hypothermia, 4- Manpower and Equipment and 5- Developing an Operational Plan. This course of instruction certifies those participants as Ice Rescue Specialists which complies with NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Standard 1670.
The afternoon portion of the program included actual applying all the classroom study into practical (in water) rescue scenarios. Sweeden Point Marina (Western Charles County) was chosen for the evolution site. Students were subjected to freezing water and ice approximately 4" thick. Students used the latest Personal Protective Gear available today used for Ice Rescue and all came out of the class much more aware of the dangers associated with ice related incidents.
Students from the Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department included: Chief Eddie Godwin, Anna Belmore, Bob Bornschein, Billy Bowie, Joey Chapman, Robert Higgs Jr, Cindy Holcomb, and C.J. Lancaster participated. Other Charles County Volunteer Fire Departments participated to include the Charles County Dive Rescue, 10th District Volunteer Fire and EMS and the Benedict Volunteer Fire Department and EMS to name a few.
