Many outdoor enthusiasts find themselves around the ice this time of year, but sometimes admiring the winter scenery or the occasional ice fishing can turn dangerous.
"Erie's a really water-oriented community, so this time of year, we get a lot of people out ice fishing, snow skiing, just walking around checking things out," Co-Captain Erie County Sheriff's Department Scuba Team Norma Carey. "So its important that you are prepared."
That's why each year, the Erie County Sheriff's Department Scuba Team and the Erie Skin Divers Club, take the time to educate the public on of methods of self rescue, and how to safely rescue others who have fallen through the ice.
Demonstrators told those in attendance its important to wear the proper clothing, including a personal flotation device. They also spoke to the public wearing spikes on a rope around your neck to use as traction to help pull yourself out of the water.
And when it comes to saving others, demonstrators showed reaching techniques we can, so we don't put ourselves in danger of falling in.
Also on hand for the event were those from the Erie yacht club. This demonstration is nice refresher course for them.
"We work around the ice every day, its part of our job, so we just find it important to refresh our training and skills to rescue someone in the event someone does fall in the water," said assistant dock master Mike Argeny.
Argeny and others there said since the bay is such big part of our area, its important for everyone to equipped with the right safety techniques.
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