No rescue feat too tough for firefighters

Dave Paddon, left, a member of the Enilda volunteer fire department, put on the suit and got into the 1,500-gallon portable tank. Ian Fox, right, holding the rescue harness, explains how it would be attached to the rescuer and how the rescue procedure would play out. Claude Smith, left-centre, and Wally Garrick, right-centre, are standing beside Fox.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Dave Paddon is willing to take a full training course in ice water rescue after trying on and testing a suit specific to this situation. Paddon was among 16 volunteer firefighters from Enilda, Faust, Joussard and Kinuso to participate in an introductory ice rescue course and a flag person-training course in Joussard Feb. 23. Ian Fox, who runs Instructional Initiatives and is the director of protective services for the M.D. of Smoky River, brought an ice rescue suit for the firefighters to try. Paddon tried the suit on first. He found it tight fitting and couldn’t hear out of the headpiece. Then he got into a 1,500-gallon portable water tank and found the suit to be very warm and dry. A short time later, Fox hooked up a rescue harness to Paddon. Fox explained the rescuer would hold onto the person around their body using an arm lock. Fox also explained the other types of equipment that could be added to the suit, such weights on the ankles to keep the rescuer buoyant. Paddon, a member of the Enilda volunteer fire department, was impressed with the suit. “It’s between swimming and having a life-jacket on,” says Paddon. “It’s so buoyant, it’ll flip you upside down.” This equipment would be good for all fire departments to have, he adds. Wally Garrick, a member of the Faust volunteer fire department, also tested the suit. He says he was a little apprehensive to get into the tank, but enthusiastic once he got in. “You just felt secure and you can’t sink in it,” says Garrick. He’s assisted in four or five water rescues per year and would like to have this suit as another tool for rescue operations. Fox insists the suit and rescue procedure would be used only as a last resort. “Safety is the consideration in these circumstances, to ensure our people don’t put themselves in harm’s way,” says Fox. As for the flag person-training course, Fox provided a multimedia presentation and several videos depicting how and where signs and flag people are placed. M.D. of Big Lakes fire chief John Gould says fire departments are dealing with an increasing number of vehicle accidents on highways and are usually the first on scene. Hence, they need the flag person training and equipment to ensure the safety of firefighters and citizens. The M.D. provided money for both courses. Gould likes to hold workshops for his firefighters on subjects like ice rescue. As an extension of this course, he wants to hold a four-day water and ice rescue course later this year. The more comprehensive the firefighters’ training is, the better, he says. Gould adds the M.D. of Big Lakes has applied for a $25,000 grant from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to hold five more courses. He should know by April 1 if the grant application is successful.

Copyright © 1999-2005 South Peace News. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster