As it regards fireman and EMTs doing underwater training in the winter time, at least the air temperatures have been mild lately, regardless of the chill of the water. This is NOT a training day that First Responders look forward to. It's damn cold in there, regardless of your wet or dry suit. It's essential practice, with poor visibility, mind and muscle numbing cold, and the requirement to focus on whatever your underwater mission is. Many of these small town EMT and firemen are volunteers who never were on swimming teams. They learned how to swim at the local pool or back 40 pond, but weren't technically trained. Yet they still overcome any personal fears out of fear of NOT rescuing someone who needs them. God bless each and every one of them, and I hope nobody reading this ever needs them.