Probe Launched after Water Rescue Drill in Canada Goes Awry

The Ministry of Labour and the Office of the Fire Marshal are investigating after four volunteer firefighters were transported to hospital during a swift water rescue training drill last month.

 

“I did get caught in the current already — a couple times,” she said during a telephone interview. "I know it’s the theory of tough love: just get in the water and do what you need to do.”  

A few times she barely made it back to shore.

As she was being assisted into a designated warming area, located in the back of a fire truck, she was told she didn't look good.

“That’s all I remember. I don’t remember any other part, except being in the hospital.”

She was treated for mild to moderate hypothermia and released after three hours. 

Three others also were transported for cold exposure.

There was a safety plan in place that all participants were made aware of prior to getting in the water, and a paramedic was on standby during training exercises, explained Kris Rooley, chief of both Goulais Fire and Rescue Volunteers and Searchmont Community Volunteer Fire Department. 

Rooley said he was the one who made the call to stop training and send the four firefighters to hospital out of “an abundance of caution.”   

“Something unfortunately went wrong — people got cold and people got tired in the water. As soon as they started feeling any of that, I stopped the training and we activated our plan. The paramedic started to provide patient care, and then out of precaution we sent four into the hospital to be checked over," the chief said.

Rivard told the reporter she believes that the employees at Southwest Fire Academy, a company that that delivers training to fire departments, failed to equip participants with wetsuits and gear used specifically for colder water temperatures, They also failed to provide firefighters with safety tethering while training in the river.