Republican reporter Elizabeth Roman participates in a Springfield Fire Department rescue drill. Watch video
SPRINGFIELD- As my legs flailed beneath me in the icy Van Horn Pond, I took a moment to chastise myself for volunteering to jump into freezing ice water for the sake of a Springfield Fire Department rescue drill.
Yes, I was tethered to a rope held by strong able firefighters and, yes, I was in a water resistant floating suit, but when you're out there in the middle of a frozen pond on your own your mind starts to wander a bit.
What if this pond has some mutant cold resistant piranhas that suddenly decide to make an appearance? What if the rope unravels and the floatation devices in the suit suddenly fail and I'm sucked into the murky water and meet my end in a grimy pond?
Luckily, Springfield Fire Capt. Curt Marcellin came to my rescue before I actually started drowning due to exaggerated panic.
Every year firefighters are required to do rescue drills with safety sleds that are used during real rescues on the ice.
"Rescuing on the ice is a very difficult and dangerous operation," Marcellin said. "What this sled allows us to do is get to the victim in a fast and safe manner."
Marcellin had simple instructions for me. Slip into the water, don't jump in because the water will try to suck you down and, basically, act like a person in distress.
In the drill and in a real scenario, Marcellin comes out with the sled. Both are tethered to ropes held by other firefighters. When he reaches the victim, in this case me, he pulls you out of the water and attaches you to the sled which is then pulled back to shore.
Interim Fire Commissioner Joseph Conant said every year the department is called out to do ice rescues after people ignore the department's warnings that the ice is too thin.
"A lot of people will go out on the ice after a pet or kids especially will go out there," he said.
Conant said there are eight engines and one rescue squad each equipped with a sled.The sleds were purchased years ago with the help of government grants and community donations.
He said due to several weeks of warm weather people should not try to go out on the ice.