The following is from WHAG News Reporter Kirstin Garriss

FREDERICK, Md. - Members of Frederick County's Advanced Technical Rescue Team took advantage of the polar temperatures on Saturday to conduct their annual ice rescue training session.

"We want to be prepared to respond quickly and adequately and exercise our equipment and train with it so we know we're prepared to respond," said Chris Kunkle, ATR Team Leader.

For some of these fire and EMS personnel this is their time ice training because instructors said they have to wait for cold weather like this to get the opportunity to train in real life situations.

"A lot of times we're able to get through the classroom portion but without having the ice it's hard to simulate just a still pond the actual effects of the ice on both the rescuer and the victim so having the ice, cold weather this year was really an advantage to us," said Peter Gorelick, ATR Assistant Team Leader.

Part of the training focuses on getting rescuers comfortable using their wet suits.

"With ice rescue, one of the advantages that we have is our equipment. It provides a very stable platform for us as rescuers to rescue a victim if we actually have to go into the water," said Gorelick. "So one of the things we try to do is get them to be comfortable in the water, understand how they need to be able to self rescue themselves so that they can get themselves out of trouble."

Frederick County hasn't had any ice related incidents this season and to be prepared, instructors practiced various rescue scenarios including rescuing a victim from icy waters.

"This is as close to real world as we can get and it really is real world training," said Gorelick.

Emergency personnel ask residents to avoid ice covered lakes and ponds during the winter since frozen ice can be very misleading.