Frozen Water Gives Fire Department A Training Opportunity

Oskaloosa Fire Fighters practice cold water rescue this week at Edmundson Pond.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – There is little activity at Edumundson Park over the winter, but this past week the Oskaloosa Fire Department took advantage of the frozen pond to do training in cold water rescue.

A chainsaw and an ax made a quick hole in the ice, and the department introduced their intern to what is involved in performing such a rescue operation from ice.

With the rescuer placing the victim on the rescue device, firefighters on shore then quickly move backward, pulling the victim from the ice. The motion is done quickly, and it’s a fast trip across the ice.

The department will be sending four of its staff to a formal class hosted by the Montezuma Fire Department over the weekend.