Warnings, tips follow icy rescue

Imagine seeing someone fall through the ice, and you are the only one around to help.

What do you do?

Fire officials on Wednesday praised several neighbors for reacting correctly when they rescued two young boys and two other would-be rescuers from an icy west Omaha pond Tuesday.

The key, said Fire Capt. Jim Gentile, a Fire Department spokesman, is to throw something to the victims, rather than venturing onto the ice yourself.

Brandon Hile, 21, and his 19-year-old brother, Garrett, threw a garden hose out onto the ice. Another neighbor eased a ladder across the ice. Other neighbors arrived to help pull the victims out within minutes.

“It's a tough call because you want to help out but you don't want to be a victim,” Gentile said.

Gentile and other Omaha firefighters demonstrated proper techniques for ice rescues Wednesday, a day after the boys, both about 10, fell through the ice. Firefighters train twice a year for ice rescues.

The incident near 183rd and Harrison Streets on Tuesday was an example of what can happen as spring approaches and temperatures climb, slowly thawing ice, Gentile said.

The first step of an ice rescue, Gentile said, is to call 911. Firefighters will be there within five minutes, he said. It was unclear who made the call in the Tuesday incident. Firefighters at first were slightly delayed because of wrong information about the location, but still arrived in four minutes and 47 seconds, he said.

Next, he said, rescuers shouldn't go out on the ice to help the victims, even though that is a natural reaction.

“What you end up with are more victims in the water,” he said.

That is what happened Tuesday, when Bethany Stafford and her 17-year-old daughter raced onto the ice and fell in while trying to help the boys. All four were treated at a local hospital and released.

Gentile said rescuers should look for a hose, rope or long stick that can be thrown to the victim. The victim can grab the item and use it to stay afloat or to try to climb out.

While the victim is still in the water, the rescuer should try to hold the victim's attention. Focusing on the rescuer will help the victim keep from panicking, Gentile said.

Firefighters sometimes must go onto ice to rescue someone who has fallen in, but they train for such situations, Gentile said.

Capt. Brad Hildebrandt, the department's special operations coordinator, said firefighters use maneuvers such as getting down on all fours to distribute their weight evenly on the ice. They also learn how to prevent the victim from grabbing them and pulling them into the water.

Firefighters stressed Wednesday that it is important for people to stay off the ice now that winter is almost over.

“Stay off lakes, streams, all water,” Gentile said. “If you do have to go on, wear some kind of flotation device.”

Contact the writer:

444-1279, jason.kuiper@owh.com

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