A matter of minutes: How the NYPD Harbor Unit teaches cops to save lives in frozen waters | amNewYork

"You guys are not just to radio to Scuba here, get EMS here, get ESU here. You're more than that; you want to gather as much information as you can, and then you want to communicate that information. You want to extend yourself, Rodriguez said to the gathered officers huddled on the icy snow. Set up a staging area. Stage the area, disseminate information, and yes, use some equipment at your disposal."

"NYPD specialized units are teaching patrol cops how to perform cold-water rescues as temperatures continue to plummet in the Big Apple and the risk of fatal falls into icy rivers and ponds rises. Detective Robert Rodriguez of the NYPD Harbor Unit presided over the lesson off 77th Street in Central Park on Thursday, attended by patrol cops and even members of the Auxiliary Unit. Standing on the edge of a frozen Turtle Pond in the iconic greenspace, Rodriguez looked to inform the cops exactly what they should do if someone fell through the ice and became submerged in the freezing water."

"Rodriguez himself is a foremost expert in water rescue. In 2009, he participated in the historic rescue of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, which made an emergency landing on the Hudson River after a double-engine failure, known as the Miracle on the Hudson. In the aftermath, Rodriguez scuba-dived from a helicopter, maneuvered himself through the plane's wing exit, and helped save a woman who had gone into hypothermic shock to t"

NYPD specialized units are training patrol officers and Auxiliary members in cold-water rescue techniques as temperatures plunge across the city. Detective Robert Rodriguez of the Harbor Unit led a hands-on demonstration at Turtle Pond in Central Park, outlining steps for responding when someone falls through ice and becomes submerged. Responding officers were instructed to gather and communicate incident information, establish a staging area, and deploy available equipment. Vehicles should carry rescue rings and flotation vests, and parks contain special red ladders. Rodriguez's experience includes participating in the 2009 Hudson River Flight 1549 rescue and performing a helicopter scuba dive to aid a hypothermic victim.

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