Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Three people are safe after one person fell through the ice at Taye Lake and the Mendenhall River near Haines Junction, YT, on December 28.
At approximately 6:30pm on December 28, two people were snowmobiling in a backcountry area around the Mendenhall River. One of the two was an off-duty police officer who had a GPS communication device, used to signal for help in an emergency. They came across a third person who had fallen through the ice. The person had gotten out of the water on their own but was believed to be in medical distress due to the cold temperatures and their clothing being soaked and frozen. The police officer and their travel partner were able to call for help, start a fire, and initiate first aid while waiting assistance from Haines Junction RCMP and Yukon Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Police and EMS reached the group at approximately 10:45 pm. The person who had been in the water was transported out by snowmobile to meet an ambulance shortly after midnight, and was transported to hospital.
“This person was very lucky to be found by people who knew what to do,” says S/Sgt. Kent Langley, acting District Officer for Yukon RCMP. “The off-duty RCMP officer had received the Wilderness Operations Course that was developed by Yukon RCMP to provide police officers in the Territory with the skills needed for this type of situation, and an understanding of the tools needed for winter safety. The importance of training and proper equipment for the backcountry cannot be overstated.”
The Canadian Coast Guard notes that it can be difficult to tell the strength or thickness of ice by its appearance, and changing weather conditions can affect ice from day to day. They suggest the following safety tips before going out on the ice:
- Consider conditions: keep an eye on the weather and always check the ice for thickness and stability before going out;
- Plan ahead: don’t travel on ice alone; leave a trip plan with someone that includes where you’re going, for how long, and when you will be back;
- Be prepared: carry a personal safety kit including a whistle, a cellphone in a pouch, and a fully-charged GPS device.
Police cannot provide further details on the medical status of the person involved but can note that there were no injuries or other safety concerns for the first responders involved in the response.