Monday, January 22nd, 2007
Very chilly practice
Photo by Laura Walker/The Daily Standard

St. Marys firefighter Curt Gabel, in red, practices an ice rescue of members of St. Johns, Wapa-koneta and St. Marys Township fire departments on Sunday morning near Wright State University-Lake Campus. Gabel became a member of the "fly team" after he ran 500 feet, had his fellow firefighters dress him in a "Gumbie" suit and completed three rescues, all in under seven minutes. The "Gumbie" suits keep rescue personnel dry and buoyant while they swim through ice water, load the victim onto a floating sled and are pulled back to shore. The training was attended by more than 50 personnel from area fire, parks and law enforcement departments.

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