Video Story
Watch VideoCold weather a safety reminder
Story By: David Tauchen
Source: KOAA
Published Sun Jan 04, 2009, 06:08 PM MST
Updated Sun Jan 04, 2009, 10:20 PM MST
After the fresh snowfall Saturday night, sledders hit the hills at the Bear Creek Park in Colorado Springs."This is great. Nice and fluffy," said Mike Donnelly, who was out sledding with his granddaughter.
The recent storm left a blanket of snow, several inches deep in some places, and perfect conditions for sledding.
However, fun in the cold can be dangerous in other places. Lakes across town have iced over and the Colorado Springs Fire Department is warning people not to go on the ice.
"We get some warm days and some cold days. They switch back and forth between the two and the ice gets bad in spots," said Gary Tronjanovich with the Colorado Springs Fire Department Heavy Rescue Team. Tronjanovich specializes in ice rescues using cold water survival suits.
"In 4 to 6 minutes hypothermia sets in," said Tronjanovich. "[Victims] won't be able to move or get out or self rescue, they'll be lucky just to hold on."
The Heavy Rescue team trains in these types of conditions as well as conditions where the ice isn't as strong.
Tronjanovich recommends that people not trust the ice and don't venture out on it.
