A video of a firefighter rescuing a teenager from the Rideau River in Smiths Falls, Ontario, highlights the dangers of thin ice and emphasizes the importance of ice safety.
Police in Smiths Falls, Ontario, are hoping a video depicting the dramatic rescue of a teenager who fell into the frigid Rideau River last week will serve as a stark reminder to others about the dangers of venturing onto thin ice. The video, released by the Smiths Falls Police Service, shows a firefighter bravely crossing the treacherous ice to save the 14-year-old boy who was clinging to survival as concerned onlookers watched.
Andrew Fleming, the firefighter who first reached the teen, described the scene as harrowing. 'He was completely submerged in the water,' Fleming stated. 'The ice shelf was too brittle. It wouldn't hold our weight.' Another rescuer entered the icy water to assist in dragging the boy to shore. Remarkably, the teenager was out of the water within 11 minutes of falling through the ice and was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment of hypothermia. Fleming, who was undertaking his first ice rescue, credited his extensive training for the successful outcome. Rick Chesebrough, the Smiths Falls Fire Chief, emphasized the crucial role played by the teenager's friends who promptly called 911, as well as the fire station's preparedness with brand new ice rescue equipment. David Humphrys, an instructor with Boreal River Rescue, a group that conducts ice safety and rescue courses, stresses that ice conditions are constantly fluctuating and that even ice appearing thick can be deceptively dangerous. Humphrys advises that if you find yourself trapped on thin ice, remain calm, call for help, and if possible, attempt self-rescue by lying flat and slowly moving towards the thicker ice. He adds that, generally, ice needs to be at least 10 centimeters thick to safely support a person's weight
ICERESCUE SAFETY TEENAGER RIDEAU RIVER SMITHSFALLS
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