A Real Lifesaver on Ice
Feb 8th, 2011 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Feb 8th, 2011 at 12:00 AM
Sturgeon Bay, Wis. – Bret Alexander has made a career of being in the right place at the right time. Apparently, it’s a talent that applies both to guiding clients and rescuing people on the ice. Alexander, a veteran Northeast Wisconsin fishing guide with extensive emergency medical training, recently helped save the lives of two ice anglers in grave peril.
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Saturday, January 22, 2011, while at work guiding a large party of 60 anglers on Little Sturgeon Bay of Lake Michigan, Alexander noticed flashing headlights a quarter mile out on the frozen oasis. He reacted, as had local Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warden Mike Neal who had been radioed about the emergency situation out on Lake Michigan’s Riley’s Point.
“When I arrived on the scene,” said Alexander, Pro Staff for Frabill, “I noticed a tipped-over shanty near the two men, who were lying on the ice. About eight other guys were nearby, sort of in shock. I immediately checked vital signs on both victims, and found a faint pulse in each of them. It was pretty apparent that the men were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. And when I felt their skin, it was ice cold, which told me they were hypothermic, as well.”
Alexander quickly went to work resuscitating one victim, while he instructed a fellow fishing guide on aiding the second man.
“I knew we had to get some ventilation into their lungs, and also get them someplace warm, fast,” reported Alexander, a veteran Air Force firefighter and longtime local Fire Chief, who recently retired to pursue a burgeoning guiding business.
After several minutes of CPR, Alexander and Neal were able to restore limited breathing to the two victims, but had to act fast to get them back to shore. “We got the men into the back of Mike’s truck, and somehow, he was able to drive up over a steep breakwall and reach the Sunset Bar and Grill restaurant. Once we got the guys inside and started warming them up, an ambulance arrived. I think the EMTs were surprised when I asked for oxygen and emergency re-breathers. But as soon as we got the two anglers breathing oxygen, they immediately came around and became alert.”
For Alexander, the rescue wasn’t quite over. “One of the techs asked if I was qualified to drive an ambulance. At first, I thought he was kidding.”
Fortunately for the two anglers, their rescuer was in the right place at the right time once more, this time, piloting their ambulance to a nearby hospital where they later recovered.
“These guys had four heaters going at once,” Alexander explained. “But they failed to properly ventilate their shelter. They were lucky this time.” The shelter was an older cabin-style shelter, one without ventilation systems, which are now common with certain premium brands.