Fire Department

Ladder Company 6 and Medic 6 were dispatched to the area of Arboretum Drive and Balden Street Monday to check on a man experiencing heat- and exercise-related shortness of breath while kayaking on Lake Wingra.

Ladder Company 6 located the patient in a wooded area off-shore. Ladder 6 provided him oxygen and initial treatment until they could get him to an ambulance.

It was determined the best way to get the patient to the ambulance was to transport him across Lake Wingra, where Medic 6 was ready to provide additional medical care. The MFD's Lake Rescue Team, which is also staffed by certified firefighter/EMTs, was dispatched to their location. Once the Lake Rescue Team arrived, the patient was loaded onto their boat and taken to paramedics.

The man reported feeling much better while in the care of MFD and told paramedics he did not wish to be taken to the hospital.