Firefighters rescue dog from thin ice
December 28, 2009
Wentzville, MO
Firefighters with the Wentzville Fire Protection District recently ran an emergency call involving a small dog on the ice of a slightly frozen retention pond during this winter season.
Watch this puppy play in the snow.
In this particular instance, people from the subdivision were attempting to rescue to the dog themselves. No one had fallen in the frigid water prior to the firefighter’s arrival.
A concerned citizen called the Wentzville Fire Station #1 to report what they thought was a dangerous situation. This indeed was an extremely dangerous situation for both the pets and people. Hypothermia (Low body Temperature) occurs rapidly in the cold water and winter weather. This sudden loss of body heat causes a person to have muscle cramps, exhaustion and unconsciousness in a short period of time.
For example: In water that is 32 degrees or lower, the survival time of the person who is in the water is approximately 15 to 45 minutes. Therefore, it is extremely important that the 9-1-1 system be notified as quickly as possible to get help on its way.
The firefighters of the Wentzville Fire Protection District have Ice Rescue suits and the training to make this specific type of rescue. No one whom is not fully trained or equipped for an ice rescue or water rescue should go out onto thin or cracking ice or enter the water.
The Wentzville Fire District covers 88 square miles of Western St. Charles County and includes the cities of Wentzville, Foristell, Flint Hill and Josephville; as well as large portions of Lake Saint Louis, Dardenne Prairie and O’Fallon.
From the Wentzville Fire District
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