This morning, the members of the IFD that were not able to train a couple weeks ago got another chance to go on the ice to train for an ice rescue scenario. Once again, the Ipswich Fire Department were off the shoreline of the Ipswich River near the County Street bridge, going through the ice for training for ice rescues. Here they got to train on properly wearing the ice rescue suits, rope operations, how to approach a victim safely, dealing with the hypothermic patient, and setting up and using the RDC (Rapid Deployment Craft).
The crews were training on how to deploy crews and equipment in the various and sometimes challenging situations that arise when the ice gets thin. Ice rescue presents unique problems for the firefighter that require specialized technical skills to solve.