Braving the cold: Local firefighters dive into icy water rescue training

Firefighters in Kitchener showed CTV’s Hannah Schmidt how they prepare for water emergencies.

First responders traded in their warm firehouses for freezing waters on Wednesday, preparing for the worst so they can save lives when it matters the most.

“We come to different areas in the city where there’s the potential people could fall through the ice,” said Kitchener Fire Captain Shawn Hoover. “We just come here to hone our skills and to practice.”

Firefighters with the City of Kitchener suited up in bright yellow cold-water rescue suits and plunged into the icy waters for specialized rescue training.

“We try to do it at the start of the year,” Hoover told CTV News. “We have dry suits that keep us protected and warm so we can enter the water.”

They also bring along a lot of gear.

“We can use ladders and stuff to reach out to people,” Hoover explained. “We can actually use our hose lines; we fill them with air, and they float so we can reach out and get people to hang on to them, and possibly pull them in. We also have throw ropes so we can pass a rope to them, and we have an inflatable boat that we can pump up and enter that way.”

Kitchener Fire has responded to one water rescue incident this season, back in November.

Seconds matter in ice rescues

When someone falls through the ice, time is the enemy.

Hypothermia can set in within minutes, making it critical for a swift and precise rescue. That’s why firefighters are perfecting their techniques, practicing how to approach victims safely, using rescue sleds and ropes effectively, and navigate treacherous, shifting ice.

“We have an acronym that goes: Talk, Reach, Throw, Roll, Go,” explained firefighter Brady Wheelans. “You would try to talk to them, ask if they can self-rescue and you would throw a rope, reach something out like a hose or a ladder to them. And then by the time crews would arrive, they would be having people in suits and they’re ready to go and get them if they need help.”

According to the Lifesaving Society of Ontario, 35 per cent of drownings happen in Canada between the months of October and April when most people aren’t intentionally going into the water. Almost two thirds of those drownings occur on lakes and the rest on rivers.

The most important lesson? Prevention

While firefighters are ready to respond when there’s an emergency, they hope their skills won’t be needed.

“[There’s] the danger of not knowing what could happen and how quick it could happen,” said Wheelans. “It’s always good to test ice before you’re going on it.”

Their biggest message to the community – avoid taking risks on the ice.

“The dangers with the water that we have around here, is that it’s moving water; it makes the ice very unstable for people to walk on. We encourage people to stay off the ice,” Hoover said.

The region has multiple bodies of water, most notably the Grand River, which can be treacherous.

“Get out there and enjoy the winter months,” he said. “The fluctuating temperatures, though, do affect ice conditions.”

Hoover stressed that it is important to buddy up if you are walking near any waterway.

“People that are out for walks, on trails... we do get these phone calls often,” he explained. “Lots of people [like to go] dog walking and that [can be] a big issue with us. Dogs will run out and go through the ice and [the owners] are very passionate about their pet, obviously, and try to help them and then end up falling in themselves.”

Prepared for the ‘real thing’

Crews out on the water Wednesday were getting comfortable with the uncomfortable, training in the very conditions they may face during an emergency.

“We want to make sure that we’re all safe and come home each night,” Hoover said.