The weather was warmer for the Saskatoon Fire Department’s ice rescue training, but that also means the ice was much thinner at the storm retention pond in north Saskatoon between Idylwyld Drive and Avenue C.

Assistant Fire Chief Anthony Tataryn says there were a couple of training sessions this week, with a few more to come for the Water Response Teams, so you may have seen them at the pond.

During an ice rescue, a specialized rescue sled is used to slide someone out to the person needing a rescue. That way their weight is more evenly spread across the ice.
There is a pulley system attached to the sled, so the shore support team can then pull out the patient and rescuer. Because the temperatures have been milder, Tataryn says the ice is very thin, which is the worst-case scenario, but it’s also beneficial to practice in worst-case scenario ice conditions.

Tataryn believes the Fire Department is involved in an ice rescue pretty much every winter. Sometimes what happens is pets have gotten into the water, so their caregivers attempt to rescue them, but then they too need rescuing. He urges those whose pet needs rescuing to call the Fire Department immediately and leave the rescue up to them.

Tataryn says community ponds will have signs up when the ice is safe.

For anyone walking along the riverbank, keep a safe distance from the edge, because they have instances regularly where people think they are far enough away from the edge, or that the ice is thick enough, but it isn’t. He stresses to never get on river ice.