| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard First District |
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| News Release |
Date: Jan. 12, 2010 |
| Coast Guard station scheduled to receive new rescue airboat |
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The new airboat will be one of the many tools that Station Burlington uses to increase its response and on-scene times. The importance of the new rescue equipment was highlighted last weekend when a tragic snowmobile accident on In addition to unusually thin ice this year, ferry operations, due to the demolition of the Crown’s Point Bridge between Crown’s Point, NY, and Chimney Point, Vt., may create a hazard by loosening ice in areas that have traditionally been frozen solid. “We hope to prevent tragic outcomes on Lake Champlain like the recent tragic snowmobile accident on “People need to be extra careful whenever they go on frozen lakes and ponds,” said U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). “With potentially treacherous conditions on the ice each winter, I am very pleased that the Coast Guard is sending Leahy advocated for the Coast Guard to obtain an airboat in Station personnel will receive training on the new boat prior to responding to search and rescue cases with the new airboat on Lake Champlain. The training will focus on the safe operation of the boat and proper maintenance. Currently, Coast Guard members must walk carrying all of their equipment to any ice rescue scenes, which can take valuable time in rescue efforts. With the airboat, which goes over ice and water, the Coast Guard will be able to reach more incidents and get there faster. |
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