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Crews rescue in icy waters
Photos from the Fire Brigades' training excercise at Walton Dam
EMERGENCY teams braved the cold weather to take part in vital rescue training.
Sub-zero temperatures provided crews from Chesterfield Fire and Rescue Service with the perfect training aid.
Members plunged in to the icy water at Walton Dam.
James Rhodes, of Chesterfield Fire Station, on Sheffield Road, said: “We do training in the ice whenever we can and do water rescue training at least once a month.
“The icy conditions were perfect. We have to make the most of time like that to train because it doesn’t happen that often.”
As temperatures are set to plummet again over the weekend James warned walkers and children of the dangers of frozen water.
He added: “It’s important to carry out this training as if it was a real situation we would need to be safe and we need to warn others, especially youngsters, about the dangers.”
Despite special dry suits, thermal suits and flotation devices, the rescue unit officers still get cold after just a couple of minutes in the water. Without the gear, they would be hypothermic within seconds.
As part of the ice training, the crew used inflatable ‘air tracks’, which do not break the ice and would float if it should break.
l Do you have a rescue story you would like to share? Email comment@derbyshiretimes.co.uk
julia.rodgerson@derbyshiretimes.co.uk
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Weather for Chesterfield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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