Last week, one snowmobiler learned firsthand how dangerous lake ice can be when he plunged into the icy Rideau River near Burritts Rapids at 6:00 pm on Monday. But his life was likely saved, police said, by the floatation suit he was wearing.
Floatation suits, often used while ice fishing or sailing, are life-saving devices that are made with closed-cell foam and waterproof insulation materials that help keep the wearer warm and buoyant should they end up in the water. This helps prevent both drowning and hypothermia, and gives rescue teams more time to pull someone from the water.
OPP officers who responded to the scene, alongside North Grenville Fire Service, Ottawa Fire Service, Leeds and Grenville Paramedics, and Ottawa Paramedic Service, said it was a good thing the snowmobiler was wearing the suit and wasn’t driving alone.
“Fortunately, the operator was wearing a floatation suit and had been travelling with someone else who was able to call 911,” said the OPP in a media statement. “The operator was transported to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia and was later released.”
In the statement, police follow up by warning about the dangers of travelling on ice during the winter and remind riders to always wear proper gear. “Changing winter weather can cause unpredictable conditions both on and off the water…Travelling on ice is risky and should be avoided. Our best advice is: no ice is safe ice.”
The OPP also advises those who wish to snowmobile to consult their local snowmobile club for up-to-date information on trail conditions, especially trails that cross waterways.
But if you do end up in icy waters, “Don’t panic,” instructs the Lifesaving Society. Instead, calmly turn toward the direction you came from, place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface, kick your feet to propel yourself onto the ice on your stomach, and roll away from the hole until you are on solid ice.
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