Ice Safety. More than a century of service. Pride, Professionalism, Skill, and Integrity. Q: When is the river ice safe to go on? A: Never.

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2 Ice Safety Q: When is the river ice safe to go on? A: Never. That s the lesson local emergency responders were teaching during school visits last week. On March 31st, members of the Peace River RCMP detachment, Alberta Health Services EMS and the Peace River Fire Department presented information sessions regarding ice safety to local students. The sessions included information regarding what to expect if you fall through the ice and procedures for self-rescue, statistics on injuries and deaths related to ice and cold water, and how ice rescues are performed. The group made five presentations at TA Norris Middle School, Glenmary High School and Peace River High School. Extra stress was placed on the dangers associated with the ice on the Peace River. It is never safe to walk on the ice on the Peace River said Captain Mike Frayne of the Peace River Fire Department. The ice on the Peace River is not as strong or as predictable due to the way it is formed and due to the flowing water beneath it. If someone were to fall through, they would most likely be swept under the ice cover and drown. The idea for these presentations came from the Community Advisory Committee, which brings together local officials and emergency responders to address regional public safety concerns. Peace River Town Councillor Oren Ford, who is a member of the committee, was present to introduce the group. The presenters included Captain Frayne of the Peace River Fire Department, Constable Jessica Roy of the RCMP and Tyne Lunn, an Advanced Care Paramedic with Alberta Health Services EMS. Also present to assist were Lieutenant Cooper of the Peace River Fire Department and Firefighter Drew Keddie of the County of Northern Lights Fire Department. 30 More than a century of service. Pride, Professionalism, Skill, and Integrity.

3 Ice Safety Awareness Presented By: Peace River Fire Department Royal Canadian Mounted Police Alberta Health Services EMS

4 Airdrie Tragedy

5 Could it happen here?

6 Peace Regional RCMP Calls for Service Winter animal fatality 1 call for 3 kids walking on the ice Winter 2015 PDS called to track male on river 3 intoxicated males taking selfies

7 Is it illegal? NO, walking on the frozen river is not ILLEGAL.

8 Red Cross Statistics Report on water-related fatalities - June 2016

9 Males had the highest rate of water-related fatalities For males, the age group with the highest rate is years old

10 Physiological Response A brief overview of the body s response to sudden cold water exposure

11 Phase 1 COLD SHOCK Sudden immersion causes an automatic body response 1 st Gasping 2 nd Hyperventilate DO NOT PANIC Rapid breathing will pass Have 1 minute to get your breathing under control FIRST MINUTE

12 Phase 2 Cold Incapacitation Become weaker You have approx 10 min of meaningful movement Attempt at self-rescue or prepare for rescue Make every attempt to keep airway & as much of your body as you can out of the water 10 MINUTES Lack coordination

13 Phase 3 Hypothermia 1 HOUR you have one hour before you will lose consciousness from hypothermia 2 nd HOUR without rescue, you will likely die within the next hour from hypothermia

14 1 Minute 10 Minutes 1 Hour Principle Phase 1 you have 1 MINUTE to get your breathing under control Phase 2 you have 10 MINUTES of purposeful movement to attempt rescue Phase 3 you have 1 HOUR before you lose consciousness from hypothermia

15 When is Ice Safe? Clear ice is strongest (safest) Ice thickness is not uniform How ice is formed will affect it s strength Ice forms and melts differently on flowing water vs still water Taken from Rescue 3 International's Ice Rescue Technician (v02.1) Load (tons) Required Ice Thickness (in) Distance Between Loads (ft)

16 Types of Ice

17 Ice Rescue Equipment PPE Rope

18 Ice Rescue Equipment Cont d Rapid Deployment Craft (RDC)

19 Ice Rescue Equipment Cont d Miscellaneous Equipment

20 Successful Rescue

21 Information Credits: Dr Gordon Giesbrecht; Professor of Thermophysiology with the University of Manitoba Rescue 3 International s Ice Rescue Technician (v02.1) Presenters Constable Jessica Roy, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Captain Mike Frayne, Primary Care Paramedic, Peace River Fire Department Tyne Lunn, Advanced Care Paramedic, Alberta Health Services EMS Any QUESTIONS?