[Press Release] : Millie and owner safe after early morning ice water rescue

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp - (573) 499-7035 

Millie and owner safe after early morning ice water rescue

COLUMBIA, MO (December 20, 2007) - On Thursday, Dec. 20, Kathy Brown
and her two dogs were taking their morning walk around the old quarry on
Lakeshore Drive. But this morning's walk turned out to be a far cry from
normal. 

Brown noticed that her 9 year-old Golden Retriever, Millie, was not
with her and her younger dog. After some backtracking, Brown found
Millie had wandered out on to the melting ice covering a private lake,
the remnants of an abandoned rock quarry, and had fallen through the
ice. 

Brown ran to a neighbor's house at 1119 Lakeshore and asked them to
call 9-1-1. Brown then returned to the quarry pit and began to trek
across the ice in an attempt to rescue Millie. Brown went through the
ice and found herself in water above her waist. Brown was able to make
it to shore and was found by firefighters resting partially on a rock
ledge which jutted out into the water. 

Engine 2, Quint 6, Boat 1, Squad 3, a division chief and battalion
chief all responded to the call for assistance at 7:42 a.m. Quint 6 was
the first arriving unit at 7:52 a.m. 

Firefighters began a dual rescue, first rescuing Kathy Brown.
Firefighters, in cold water rescue suits known as "Mustang suits," made
their way across the ice to Brown and secured a personal floatation
device around her. 

At the same time, a firefighter was in a Mustang suit and rolled across
the ice to where Millie was struggling to escape from the hole she
created. Firefighter Brenda Harriman was able to grab Millie and bring
her out of the water and onto the ice. 

Meanwhile, other firefighters had launched the 'Zodiak' boat (a flat
bottom pontoon style boat) and made their way across the ice to Brown.
Harriman and Millie were then loaded into the Zodiak boat and all were
brought back to shore. 

Firefighters reported the Brown was cold, but doing very well and was
treated by paramedics on the scene from University Hospitals and
Clinics. 

Firefighters indicated the Millie was exhausted from being in the cold
water for over 30 minutes and struggling to get out. Millie was also
treated by paramedics on the scene and warming efforts using the heat in
the back of the ambulance, as well as warm blankets, seemed to bring a
little pep back to Millie after about 20 minutes. 

A veterinary doctor, Mary Lamar, DMV, was called to the scene to
evaluate Millie and determine if she would need additional care. As the
call concluded, it appeared that Millie was doing very well and a full
recovery was expected.

Brown was also doing well and was refusing additional medical treatment
on the scene. 

The Columbia Fire Department and other emergency service providers in
Columbia and Boone County are encouraging pet owners to follow these
safety tips:

NEVER attempt to rescue an animal that has wandered onto the ice or who
has fallen through the ice. All fire departments in Columbia and Boone
County are trained and equipped to handle these types of rescues. One
rescue can be difficult enough, but when multiple rescues must be
performed it can stretch emergency resources thin.

Pet owners should consider taking different routes on walks away from
bodies of water when icy conditions that could place pets in jeopardy
exist. 

Pet owners may also want to consider placing their pets on a leash when
the possibility of thin ice exists. 

Emergency service providers are often asked why so many resources are
provided to rescue animals from icy bodies of water. Experience has
shown that often when animals are on ice or have broken through it, it
is not long until someone attempts to rescue the animal. To prevent
people from going onto the ice or into the water, emergency services
providers respond to these calls as an emergency. 

- 30 -
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