Firefighters training could save lives

Annapolis firefighters are practicing rescues in icy waters since local creeks and streams have begun to freeze over, posing dangerous temptations for kids.

On the icy surface of Weem's Creek, city Firefighter Chris Boettcher slithers toward a man flailing in the chilly water.

Wearing a specially-designed protective suit that looks like yellow rain gear, he stays on his belly to keep his weight from collapsing the fragile ice and hooks his "victim" -- really a co-worker -- to a rope before both men are pulled to the safety of the wind-chilled banks.

Later, the scene was repeated as other firefighters took turns as rescuer and victim during a training exercise for the Fire Department's rescue squad.

Firefighters held the impromptu training session amid a week of sub-freezing temperatures that have iced over the surface of many local streams and creeks.

The bone-chilling temperatures, which will barely top 20 degrees today, will continue through the early part of next week before the mercury climbs over 40 degrees.

Already this week, two 14-year-olds and a dog fell through the ice on county creeks, and an 8-year-old Ocean City boy died after he and his 10-year-old friend fell through the ice.

Several mild winters in a row have kept ice, and kids, off the creeks. But Old Man Winter has come back with a vengeance, especially in the past week when the high daily temperature climbed above freezing only once.

The cold spell has left a sheet of ice atop many local waterways, and firefighters know how tempting the ice can be to adventurous children.

Firefighter Chris Boettcher attaches a rope to Firefighter Philip Morris during mock ice rescue.

Besides training for the worst, they make sure they have the right equipment, including rescue ropes, ladders and the special cold-weather suits like the Ice Commander.

The city Fire Department just bought four of the $600 suits to replace the bulky orange neoprene suits, nicknamed "Gumby Suits," that firefighters have used for 20 years in ice rescues.

"These suits have come a long way in the last couple of years," Capt. Rick Butler said.

The new suits, which are used by the Coast Guard and other rescue groups, allow the wearers to plunge into sub-freezing water yet feel like they're in a backyard swimming pool.

In extremely cold water, it doesn't take long for the body temperature to drop dangerously low.

"After six to 10 minutes in this water, you can't really move," Capt. Butler said. "You have no strength."

With the danger in mind, firefighters will continue training and doing what's necessary to protect people from the elements and themselves.

"I suspect by this weekend we'll have kids out there," Capt. Butler said. "That's when we have to be careful."