For those who work around the Yukon’s frozen bodies of water, training to rescue themselves or a colleague from the icy water is a must.
Some of that training was taking place on the Yukon River in downtown Whitehorse on Jan. 8. Led by instructor Kevin Daffe, workers from two firms, Underhill Geomatics and Stantec, learned about safety on the ice and rescue techniques in the event of a fall into the water.
Daffe is no stranger to moving water. He operates Tatshenshini Expediting, a rafting outfitter.
“We’re practicing setting up some systems, some safety, team rescue and then setting up a scenario if someone actually fell through the ice, how that would feel and how you would rescue yourself,” he said regarding the course he was running on Jan. 8.
Trainees lowered themselves into a hole cut at the edge of the ice shelf and practiced sliding beneath the ice into the free-flowing river while safely tethered and then finding their way back under the ice and up through the hole.
“That’s what it’s simulating is if you were walking and things failed and you fell through the ice how you would use your rope to get back out on your own and then your team would also help,” Daffe said.
Another core competency being taught was checking ice for stability using sounding rods.
Niko Rodden, one of the trainees, described dunking under the ice and back out as thrilling.
Rodden explained that his work with Underhill Geomatics involves river and lake bed surveys that can take him and his colleagues onto the water in the fall or the spring when ice can be present. He said it was good to learn skills to help him stay safe.
“It’s not warm, I’ll tell you that for free,” he said of the Yukon River water but added that it was manageable with the dry suits and warm clothing he and the other trainees were dressed in.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com