Seeley Lake Fire Chief Michael Greer is the first one in the water to kick off the first annual Chamber Chill Plunge. He was followed by volunteers Kyle Zumwalt and Kody Kelley.
Greer pretended to be the patient during a hypothermia training scenario. He was treated by Seeley Lake volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians.
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Volunteer Fire Department took advantage of the icy conditions at the Chamber Chill Plunge to train on environmental emergencies, specifically hypothermia.
After providing medical support for the plunge, Fire Chief Michael Greer remained in his plunge attire and became the patient for the scenario. He was found shirtless in the snow and the medical volunteers quickly jumped into action.
"As fire fighters and Emergency Medical Technicians [EMTs] we often work in extreme conditions and under extreme circumstances," wrote Greer in an email. "I have always been a firm believer in the idea of 'train like you work so you will work like you train.' If training is not realistic, when the real thing happens, you're not ready for it."
Seeley Lake volunteer EMTs quickly wrapped him up, loaded him on a backboard and carried him into the ambulance.
"This presented a perfect and unique opportunity for a training scenario as it is not often there are people crazy enough to jump in a frozen lake on purpose," wrote Greer. "My EMS personnel took great care of me! I was never really in serious danger. I can be a pretty good actor when I need to be."
Fourteen volunteers participated in the 24-hour intensive weekend training. They covered all the core topics involved in EMT training including: medical emergencies like respiratory, cardiac and obstetrics as well as trauma, communications, emergency operations, pharmacology and others.
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