- A woman and her dog were rescued after they fell through the ice in Springfield, Missouri.
- The local fire department used ropes and special equipment to enter the frigid water.
- She was later transported to the hospital for observation.
A Missouri woman and her dog were rescued after falling through ice Sunday morning, the City of Springfield Fire reported.
The woman, who had been walking her two dogs near Springfield’s Lakeshore Apartments, stepped out onto the ice after one of her dogs fell through. The fire department was called, and using ropes and special safety equipment, they were able to pull the two from the frigid water and bring the second dog ashore as well.
According to a Facebook post from the Springfield, MO Fire Department account, Captain Chris Gardener and equipment operator Tyler Nevis performed the rescue with backup from the local water rescue team.
“Our teams use special equipment to safely work in this environment; without it, the risk to anyone entering the water is extreme,” Chief Ben Houston was quoted in the post.
The woman was taken via ambulance to the hospital as her core temperature was low.
Every year about 250 people in the U.S. die after falling through ice, according to City of Springfield Fire. Rescue teams must act fast if a call like this comes in, as cold shock, hypothermia and cardiac arrest can set in quickly.
“While at the surface the ice appears solid and capable of supporting your weight, the reality is much different which could result in falling through the ice into very cold water,” Springfield Fire Chief David Pennington warned. “This becomes a dangerous and very serious situation very quickly.”
The fire department urged the public to call 911 if they witnessed someone playing on ice or someone falling through the ice. Witnesses are warned not to attempt a rescue on their own.
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