~ Springfield, MO- On January 12th, the Springfield Fire Department Water Rescue team responded to a call from retired Missouri State University women's softball coach Holly Hesse, who had fallen through the ice at the Lake Shore Apartments pond. The woman was accompanied by her two dogs, and it was thanks to the quick thinking and calm demeanor of 9-1-1 Telecommunicator Lucinda Hodges that they were able to make it out safely.

Hodges received the call and stayed on the phone with Hesse for a total of 18 minutes until help arrived. Hesse expressed her gratitude towards Hodges, stating that she is indebted to her for helping her through those crucial minutes. "We as a community are so lucky that we have folks in our public service agencies as highly trained and courageous and good at what they do," Hesse said.

Despite knowing the risks involved, Hesse went into the pond after her dog Bailey fell through the ice. Fire Captain Chris Gardner and equipment operator Tyler Nevins were able to perform the rescue with assistance from members of the water rescue team who had recently trained for ice rescues. Battalion Chief Christopher Roush, who oversees EMS and Special Operations, happened to be in the neighborhood at the time and captured most of the rescue on video.

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Chief Ben Houston was also on scene organizing the response and leading firefighters from multiple stations who were setting up for the incident as the water rescue team arrived. "Our teams use special equipment to safely work in this environment; without it, the risk to anyone entering the water is extreme," Chief Houston stated.

Hesse was brought to shore where she was warmed up before being taken via ambulance to Mercy hospital as a precaution due to her low core temperature. Her dogs were taken home by a friend who got them warmed up while Hesse received medical attention.

Hodges expressed her relief at having a happy ending for both Hesse and her furry family members. She mentioned that this was the first call in her nearly 30-year career that involved both a human and an animal falling through ice. "My goal was to keep her calm and get help to her as quickly as possible, before more ice broke," Hodges said. "This is definitely one of the more memorable calls of my career, and I'm so glad it had a happy ending."

The Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications is always looking to add to their team. Candidates must have at least one year of experience in emergency communications/dispatch work, two years of experience in a multi-tasking, high public contact work environment, or 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university.

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According to Fire Chief David Pennington, every year 250 Americans die after falling into icy ponds, lakes, and streams. Rescuers only have moments to respond and bring victims to safety. "While at the surface the ice appears solid and capable of supporting your weight, the reality is much different which could result in falling through the ice into very cold water," Chief Pennington warned.

In case of witnessing someone playing on ice or who has fallen through the ice, the Fire Department advises calling 9-1-1 immediately so that the Water Rescue team can be promptly notified and respond. It is also important to maintain voice and visual contact with the victim if it is safe to do so, providing encouragement and assurance that help is on the way. However, attempting a rescue should not be done as it can put oneself in danger.

The footage of Hesse's rescue can be viewed on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/1047295696/a7f11c4e38) or Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tr9pmbun3e5s3x65...). The Springfield Fire Department urges everyone to be cautious around icy bodies of water and to follow these important steps in case of an emergency.

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