 |
 |
|
|
An ice rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, in Essexville, Mich., and two rescued men walk across the ice toward the Coast Guard's Special Purpose Craft-Air and away from their 4-wheeler, which will be salvaged by the owners at another time, Feb. 18, 2013. The two men were ice fishing when the ice floe broke free and left the men stranded four miles east of Hampton Charter Township, Mich. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Wolner |
An ice rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, in Essexville, Mich., and two rescued men walk across the ice toward the Coast Guard's Special Purpose Craft-Air and away from their 4-wheeler, which will be salvaged by the owners at another time, Feb. 18, 2013. The two men were ice fishing when the ice floe broke free and left the men stranded four miles east of Hampton Charter Township, Mich. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Wolner |
|
 |
.. |  |
|
An ice rescue crew aboard a Special Purpose Craft-Air, from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, in Essexville, Mich., rescues two men from an ice floe in Saginaw Bay near Hampton Charter Township, Mich., Feb. 18, 2013. The two men were ice fishing when the ice floe broke free and left them stranded. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Wolner |
An ice rescue crew aboard a Special Purpose Craft-Air, from Coast Guard Station Saginaw River, in Essexville, Mich., returns to shore after rescuing two men from an ice floe in Saginaw Bay near Hampton Charter Township, Mich., Feb. 18, 2013. The two men were ice fishing when the ice floe broke free and left them stranded. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Wolner |
CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard rescued two people from an ice floe in Saginaw Bay about four miles from Hampton Charter Township early Monday afternoon.
The names of the individuals are not being released at this time.
At 2:40 p.m., a watchstander at Coast Guard Station Saginaw River in Essexville, Mich., was relayed a 911 call from Tuscola County reporting that two men were stranded on an ice floe in Saginaw Bay. An ice rescue team launched aboard a Special Purpose Craft-Air shortly after receiving the call for help.
A search-and-rescue coordinator at Coast Guard Sector Detroit also directed the launch of a rescue aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Detroit to assist in the rescue.
The ice rescue boatcrew arrived on scene at 3:19 p.m. and picked up the two men and returned them to shore where they were checked out by awaiting emergency medical technicians and released.
“Because of the extensive ice rescue training that we do with fellow responders, the communication amongst the responders went very smoothly and the response went as well as it could,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian McInnis, officer-of-the-day at Station Saginaw River. “The two men were well prepared to help themselves but didn’t want to risk getting back to shore and called for help with a cellphone, which was absolutely the correct decision.”
When venturing out on the ice, the Coast Guard encourages people to always remember the acronym I.C.E.:
Intelligence - know the weather and ice conditions, know where you are going, and know how to call for help. Never go out alone.
Clothing - have the proper clothing to prevent hypothermia. Wear a waterproof exposure suit and a life jacket.
Equipment - have the proper equipment. Carry a cellular phone or marine band radio in a waterproof container so that you can call for help.
For five important facts about ice click here.
To learn more about Coast Guard ice rescue assets click here
For more information contact Lt. Justin Westmiller, Coast Guard Sector Detroit public affairs officer at 313-701-6016.