3 Windsor firefighters certified to teach ice rescue

By PATRICK ADRIAN
WINDSOR, Vt. – The Windsor Fire Department announced on Tuesday that three firefighters – Lt. Dana Wright, Sam Sherrill and Kenyon Lord – recently completed certification requirements to provide instruction in tactical ice rescue operations.  With certified staff to train the crew, the Windsor department moves closer to adding another emergency service to its list.

Last fall, the department joined a plan with the departments of Springfield, Ascutney and Chester to form a regional ice rescue team.  Together they will provide aid to the surrounding area, including contracting service to other communities.

The Windsor Fire Department’s services include firefighting and protection, emergency medical services, and tactical rescues from swift water and difficult to reach locations (like crevices and overhangs). The department responds to 2,000 calls per year and provides contracted emergency medical services to five surrounding communities.

Wright, Sherrill and Lord will train their team members and likely provide instruction to other departments.

The course was three days, rigorous and fast paced, Wright said.  The participants spent a majority of their hours in the water and each person had to perform 215 pull-outs.

“It was strenuous,” Wright reiterated.

Since the certification was to teach others, the firefighters had to not only show their ability to perform operations but then guide their classmates through those processes.  Like other teaching courses, each firefighter received feedback and incorporate it into the next teaching demonstration.

Ice rescue has multiple facets, explained Wright.  Pull-out operations varied according the type of equipment needed for the situation. Students performed pull-outs by boat, with rescue sled for transporting the injured and rescues using slings, harnesses, ropes and webbing.

They also had to demonstrate mastery of specialized equipment for animal rescues such as dogs.  Wright said a shepherd’s hood and a lasso called a “catch-all” allows the rescuer to avoid injury should the animal attack out of fear.

“The class was intense but a lot of fun,” said Wright, who enjoyed the company of participants from  areas as far as New Jersey and Alberta, Canada.

Lord said he loved being back in his element, the outdoors.

Lord had to find his niche in life after college, he said.  He acquired a bachelor’s degree in outdoor education but found a limited job market to his interests.  The Windsor Fire Department is not only opening opportunities to practice what he connects with, but having the fraternity of colleagues with the same dedication.

Anyone could learn to do this work, Lord said, but few are actually drawn to it.  What distinguishes firefighters and emergency responders is they actually want to jump into that water.