Cleveland – It looked more like a crew approaching a space shuttle before liftoff – in reality the team in yellow were a group of Cleveland firefighters learning new ice rescue skills.
“You only have a few moments to get yourself out of the water before hypothermia takes hold,” says Executive Petty Officer Jonathan Lee of the United State Coast Guard. “We want to teach how to respond quickly, safely and get help to the people that need it.”
The Coast Guard trained the Cleveland first responders in a small pocket of Lake Erie behind the Rock Hall Wednesday morning.
“We want to have a better sense of communication and training – knowing what we can provide,” says Fire Chief Angelo Calvillo. “We don’t just fight fires, our crews do so much more.”
Frigid tempers didn’t dampen the spirit of the firefighters that jumped in. “I am not a polar bear guy,” Brendan Boland told us. “If the worst happens, our team will be ready.”