INFORMATION #1 01-23-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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rll -\) ( )j ~Iil MEMORANDUM ~~ O~4l ~~o ~ TO: Mayor and City Council rjjftJ FROM: Bruce West, Fire Chief DATE: January 13, 1995 SUBJECT: Ice and Water Rescue Equipment One of the concerns that all fire departments have in the winter time in cold weather climates, is the ability to rescue victims who have fallen through the ice and possibly only have minutes to help themselves out of the ice. With hypothermia quickly impairing a victims' ability to hold onto the ice, time is imperative for rescue of a disorientated victim who has entered the water. e After surveying what resources the Elk River Fire Department has to rescue someone who has entered the water, the Fire Officers and I have decided to look into some equipment called the Rescue Alive. Along with the Rescue Alive we have also looked into a suit called a Cumby Suit which is a floating ice water rescue suit. With the purchase of both the Cumby Suit and the Rescue Alive our fire department would be on the leading edge with the ability to rescue a person who has fallen through the ice and get that person to safety within minutes of entering the water. The Rescue Alive is a floatation pontoon type device, that not only floats on the water, but also would skim across the ice with the one person operating the equipment being tethered with rope back to the rescuers on shore. The person on the Rescue Alive would be wearing one of the floating ice rescue suits as well as one person on shore as a backup in case the first rescuer gets into trouble on the Rescue Alive equipment. e The cost of the two suits and the Rescue Alive equipment is $3505.00. The officers and I have discussed this issue and at this time have decided to approach some of the non-profit organizations in the City of Elk River. The history of the Fire Department and some of the non-profit organizations has been very good in the City of Elk River. We have received excellent support from both the Eagles and others for donations of equipment to the Fire Department. Along this line, when I attended the Chamber of Commerce luncheon in December, I met Scott Martin from the United Power Association. Scott Martin and I have been acquainted for numerous years when Scott was City Manager at the City of Champlin. Scott and I discussed the Fire Department equipment issues and other related topics. Scott mentioned to me at the time, that if the Fire Department was looking for any donations for equipment for the Fire Department that UPA would possibly would be interested in donating money towards some minor equipment. 13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490. Elk River, MN 55330. (612) 441-7420. Fax: (612) 441-7425