NORTH MANKATO — As the sun set over the water at Spring Lake Park Thursday, joggers and onlookers got a front row seat as North Mankato Fire Department trucks pulled in not for an emergency, but for cold water training.
Though a simulation, it was a realistic scene, and as the crew cleared a path to the pond and blew up a raft to help a member of the team in the water, firefighter David Bruckhoff put on the yellow rescue suit for the first time.
“It’s definitely an experience. The suits fit very snug once you, what they call burp the suit, because there’s a lot of air in it when you get in there. It’s definitely a different feeling when you get in the water. The water, it pushes around you, so you have to actually burp the suit while you’re in the water, because it causes pressure around you, so you can move,” Bruckhoff said.
The fire department usually tries to train around the time of year when there’s unsafe ice, North Mankato Fire Chief Jim Zwaschka said.
“Obviously the weather has caught up with us this year, so we’re actually doing a cold water exercise today, trying to put in the elements of also if we had ice, any of those practices that we would do,” he said.
When crews get out to the scene, getting dressed is one of the first steps. The suit is not just for show. It has warmth and floatation elements to keep the rescuer safe.
Then, the team finds the victim, said Zwaschka.
“Try and figure out, can we communicate? Responsive, unresponsive? Once it progresses from there, basically making our plan, making our action plan to figure out what our actions will be. Are we going to walk out or is it going to be something where we can swim out? The other element that comes in is do we have enough responders?” he said.
He said response calls need a go team and a row team.
“Initially we will try to get someone out to the victim. That’s the initial response in there. The other individuals come to support those. If you look at it, we’re not putting a whole lot of people out on the ice, so it is dependent on those first four individuals to get set up, and as this thing happens make sure that it has a good outcome,” he said.
With spring here and waters continuing to warm up, it’s important to remember how to stay safe.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, wearing a life jacket is one of the most important factors in surviving cold water immersion.
The Department’s website recommends people in an emergency situation focus on getting their breathing under control before assessing the situation and making a plan. To slow heat loss, cross your ankles and cross your arms over your chest, then draw your knees to your chest and lean back and try to relax.
Bruckhoff said that, for those considering a career as a firefighter, you’re never too old to start.
“If you’ve ever wanted to do it, don’t be afraid to try it,” he said. “It’s so worth it, and the community needs it.”