These specialized suits allow our members to safely rescue people and animals from cold water or icy conditions, helping to protect both the victim and the rescuer during extremely dangerous environments.

Because these suits are stored during the warmer months, we conduct this drill annually to bring them back into service. Using our dump tank, each suit is inspected and tested to ensure there is no damage, leaks, or issues that may have occurred while in storage. This ensures the equipment is ready for immediate use when needed.

The Chestertown VFC carries these cold water rescue suits on our Rescue Engine year-round, and on our utility vehicle during the fall and winter months. The utility vehicle is also equipped with additional rescue tools such as tarps, throw ropes, life safety ropes, hooks, and throw rings. This setup allows our members to quickly access remote locations that may not be reachable by roadway.

During the drill, members practiced properly donning the suits and reviewed key rescue techniques, including floating if necessary, safely approaching and rescuing a person in cold water, and moving across ice by sliding or distributing weight to reduce risk.

Later in the season, when the river or local ponds freeze, members will schedule an additional drill in a real-world environment. This allows us to apply these skills under actual winter conditions and safely test our techniques in the environments where they would be used during a real emergency.

A friendly reminder: Just because we have cold water rescue suits doesn’t mean the ice is safe. These suits are for emergencies — not an invitation to test the ice. When in doubt, stay off!

After use, the suits are allowed to dry for approximately 24 hours, then are carefully repackaged and placed back on the apparatus so they are ready for service.

Training like this ensures our members are prepared to respond safely and effectively when seconds matter most.