Firefighters from East Liverpool Fire Department, Chester, Perry, Augusta, Glenmoor and East Palestine volunteer fire departments joined Calcutta Volunteer firefighters, who hosted the training, in an eight-hour training session at Calcutta Station 10 lastSunday.

Fire Chief Dave McCoy, CVFD, said he was pleased with the number of firefighters participating. The training could accommodate up to 15 firefighters: there were 14 registered and two who didn’t show.

Randy Schneider and Andrew Stephens certified trainers and Jacob Rousch, a rescue technician, all CVFD firefighters, conducted the training session.

According to McCoy, The department usually holds this type of training each year, but without issuing certification. But this year –since the department has certiified technicians, the department decided to go ahead and promote the training to other departments and teach the class so firefighters could be certified in ice rescue.

Firefighters practice ice water rescue using a noodle and rope anchored to the ice. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

McCoy said this type of training is important because of the bodies of water whether ponds, lakes or streams are everywhere not just in St. Clair Township but throughout Columbiana County.

The firefighters spent four hours in a classroom setting at the CVFD learning about types of ice, rescue techniques, how to use rescue equipment and ways to communicate through a rescue including hand signals and types of protective water suits, before heading out to a small lake near the fire department where they took the plunge into icy water for hands on experience.

The firefighters all worked together through different scenarios where they took turns being the rescue victim and the rescuers while going through some of the different techniques that learned in the classroom presentation.

The first exercise each firefighter did was demonstrate self-rescue by getting into the water through a hole cute in the ice and pulling themselves out of the freezing water.

From there they went through a number of rescue exercises using noodles, ropes, a banana boat (rapid deployment craft) and picks and a sled.

Firefighter CJ Glista, East Liverpool Fire Department, uses ice picks during a self-rescue. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

The rescue equipment and support for the training were provided by the Hanoverton Volunteer Fire Department which brought an ice rescue trailer to the training.

They practiced single rescuer, single victim, multiple rescuers, single victim and multiple rescuers, and multiple victims rescue throughout the afternoon with each participating firefighter fulfilling requirements needed to obtain certification.

Firefighter Amanda Hoon, East Palestine Fire Department, said she signed up for the training because while there are not a lot of bodies of water in East Palestine there are a lot of backyard ponds in Unity Township which is an area they cover. So she thought it was a good idea to check the training out and training is always good.

She said the ice water rescue training was phenomenal; she learned a lot and feels confident in her abilities to do an ice rescue.

Matt McCune, Chester Volunteer Fire Department, said he decided to take the training because Chester Fire Fighters run the river for a certain distance, and they do get multiple rescue calls a year. He notes now that when they get winter rescue calls, they have the training to do them. He also said he works at an oil refinery, and they are constantly loading and offloading barges with people constantly on the barges and docks so if something were to happen there would be quicker response.

Capt. Derrick Smith, Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department and Firefighter Alex Fantone, Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, practice an ice water rescue scenario with multiple victims while Lt. Randy Schneider and Chief Dave McCoy, CVFD, observe. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

McCune said the training was better than he expected and a lot more hands on which is the best way for him to do training and that even though it was wet and cold, it was good.

For CJ Glista, East Liverpool Fire Department’s newest and youngest firefighter, the ice water rescue training was his initial training. He said the training was awesome and had a different atmosphere than what he is used to since typically firefighters deal with fire, but he was now dealing with ice. He noted that everything he learned in the training is good to know and would be helpful if someone needed to be pulled from the river.

“My goal with that training is if we can save one person just by reaching out and creating that class and increasing the changes of knowing how to get somebody out quicker when time, minutes and seconds count,” McCoy said. “I think we are going to try doing this every year.”

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com

Jason Lively uses a noodle and rope to do a practice rescue on Firefighter Matt MCune, both of Chester Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighter Amanda Hoon, East Palestine Fire Department, practices a water rescue with firefighter Brayden Flory of Perry Volunteer Fire Department using a banana boat also known as an inflatable rapid deployment craft or RDC rescues while firefighter Shayne Hamilton of East Liverpool Fire Department observes. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters practice ice water rescues using a sled and a banana boat also known as an inflatable rapid deployment craft or RDC. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Capt. Derrick Smith, Glenmoor Volunteer Fire Department, and firefighter Alex Fantone, Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, practice an ice water rescue scenario with multiple victims. More photos on page A8 and the full gallery at reviewonline.com (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighter Alex Fantone, Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department, chills in the icy water during a break in training. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Rescue technician/Firefighter Jacob Rousch, CVFD, demonstrates how to do a self-rescue during ice water rescue training. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighter Shayne Hamilton, East Liverpool Fire Department, practices self-rescue during ice water rescue training. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters from seven departments gathered in St. Clair for an ice water rescue training hosted by Calcutta Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)