SABATTUS – The Sabattus Fire Department will soon purchase winter rescue gear for emergencies in cold water.

Fire Chief Robert Scott said acquiring this became a top priority when a car went off the road and slid into open water.

“Fortunately no one was badly hurt and everyone got out safely,” he said. “But who’s to say things will be so lucky next time.”

Among the new gear will be four cold-water full-body suits, equipped with built in rubber gloves, boots and a hood.

“It’s made up of rubber and cloth and is very buoyant,” Scott said. “It’s also thin material and doesn’t limit rescuers’ mobility.” The 20-pound suits also have a rope-strap harness to allow for rope chains from dry land.

“We have a lot of open water in this town,” the chief said. “We have Sabattus River where kids love to play on the ice and Sabattus Lake where a few years ago a four-wheeler fell through and we had nothing to go out there with.”

In addition to the estimated $200 suits, helmets and floatable rope will be purchased. The selectmen voted and approved spending no more than $2,000 of the estimated remaining budget of $10,000 for the new equipment.