Oakland County divers climbed into cold water gear, strapped on high-tech equipment and plunged into the Crooked Lake at Independence Oaks County Park. Water temperature measured an icy 37 degrees Wednesday in a training exercise to prepare for the March thaw.
Although ice is expected on area lakes for several weeks yet, above normal temperatures and forecasted rain may cause unsafe ice in certain locations, said Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard’s office.
To prepare for thin-ice emergencies and other water related rescue operations throughout the year, the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and Water Rescue’Unit conducts training exercises on a monthly basis.
‘I’ve seen kids pick up a big rock and throw it onto the ice to see if it’s safe,? said Deputy John Graham of the sheriff’s marine division. ‘Or they’re out playing hockey, and it might be safe in that spot, but then they go chasing the puck and a few feet away the ice may be much thinner.?
Cutting a hole with an ice spud and measuring thickness, Graham said, is imperative to reducing danger.
‘We don’t say any ice is safe,? said Graham, explaining that clear ice’without air bubbles to indicate repeated thawing and refreezing’is generally best. ‘Obviously, the thicker the better.?
Graham, a diver with the sheriff’s 12-member dive and rescue team, compared the exercise to the practice of sending firefighters into a training blaze.
‘When you’re in a rescue situation you want to be as familiar with the environment as possible,? he said. ‘You don’t want to be worried about your gear or anything else.?
The 12-member Oakland County dive team, along with the Macomb County Sheriff’s diver and Midwest Technical Recovery Team of Detroit, made several three-sided openings into the ice and took turns dropping into the frigid water in two-man teams.
After only five minutes or so under water, divers emerged with an altered physical presence’they look exhausted.
‘It’s a lot of work for the body to stay warm,? explains diver PJ Reynolds upon exiting the wintry lake. ‘It’s very cold. So, while I have my gear and don’t feel threatened, it’s still very limiting.?
Reynolds, who works as a Rochester Community Schools liaison, said when kids’or adults’fall through the ice without the benefit of his professional suit and other gear, the results are often tragic.
‘The first thing they do is take a sharp breath because of the shock of the cold water,? he said. ‘The throat seizes, there’s no way to get air. They literally begin the drowning process as soon as they hit the water.?
Shock causes the brain to begin racing, he continued, preventing the focus or clarity necessary to get out of the water, and the body shuts down as well.
‘Adults need to heed the warning,? Reynolds said, ‘and never allow kids to play on the ice without direct supervision 100 percent of the time.?
The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and Water Rescue’Unit patrols the 450-plus lakes of Oakland County and maintains a 12-member team who are on call at all times and ready to dive in any weather or water condition.
The unit employs 27 boats, two jump boats, a hovercraft, four all-terrain vehicles and four snowmobiles, as well as the latest advanced technology.

Adam Frank saved his team from a shutout with a third-quarter goal, but Clarkston hockey were still behind.
Deep in the third period of the Jan. 17 game against Birmingham Consolidated, the Wolves struggled to make up a two point deficit.
Birmingham kept in the lead with one more goal, but with 5 1/2 minutes left, Frank followed with another goal, assisted by John Frakes.
Hunter Hughes tied the score 20 seconds later, Jon Graham assisting, forcing the game into overtime. With 42 seconds left, Michael Fiteny, with assist by Frakes, scored the goal Clarkston needed to pull ahead.
Clarkston out shot Birmingham 34-25, and Jack Schlau and Dan Smith also assisted on goals.
The 4-3 win over Birmingham Consolidated helped make up for a 4-2 loss to Port Huron Northern on Jan. 15.
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Icers continued the momentum with another win, this time against Grosse Pointe North, 5-1.
Going into the game, Coach Bryan Krygier knew it would be a tough game, but the win over Birmingham Consolidated got them ready.
‘We played a pretty good game,? said Krygier. ‘We beat them to the puck, we hit well. Our defense moved it out of our zone and we got some scoring – that was key. They started to put things together – our defense was working with our forwards, our goalie was communicating with our defense. When that happens – things go your way.?
The scoring started in the second period.
With 9:31 left in the period, Jon Graham passed the puck to Cole Schaffer. Schaffer continued the play by hitting the puck into net.
Grosse Pointe North took the puck towards the Wolves zone. The Wolves got the puck away, and Schaffer hit it into the net a minute later from his first goal.
In the last five minutes of the game, the Wolves make two more goals.
Micheal Fiteny received a pass and with a flick from the stick, put the puck into the corner of the net.
Adam Frank made the fourth goal for Clarkston from the side of the net.
Scott Cameron, Austin Morse, Justin Carroll, John Frakes, and Jack Schlau assisted with last goals of the second period.
There were some close shots for Grosse Pointe North, but goalie Garrett Knappe and Clarkston defense players kept the puck out.
Less than four minutes into the third period, Grosse Pointe North scored their first and only goal of the game. The goal was made by Benjamin Scarfone, with assistance Kevin Gibson and Craig Henderson.
John Frakes responded by making a goal for Clarkston, keeping them four points in the lead.
Both teams made 24 shots on goal for the night.
‘We played a pretty good game,? said Krygier. ‘We beat them to the puck. Our defense moved it out of our zone and we got some scoring – that was key. They started to put things together – our defense was working with our forwards, our goalie was communicating with our defense. When that happens – things go your way.?
This week, the Wolves play Stoney Creek in a rematch on Thursday.
On Saturday, they will play cross town rivals, Lake Orion.
The team is ready for their opposition this week.
‘This gives us momentum,? said Krygier. ‘We need to consistently play good hockey. We can’t get too big in the head. We had two good wins. We have to be consistent.?
Both games will begin at 6 p.m. at Detroit Skate Center.