Cochrane Fire Services emergency water rescue calls have sunk considerably this year, thanks to a concerted effort by firefighters to educate the public at every opportunity.
Fire Chief Shawn Polley said in an average year, the department expects to respond to around 10 call-outs to rescue people in trouble on the Bow River in and around Cochrane.
The seven-year average is about 10. Some years it’s higher – 15 was the highest – but this year, the total is sitting at five as of press time.
Kayakers, rafters and paddleboarders were targeted this year whenever firefighters were out on the water training. According to Polley, the education campaign focused on personal flotation devices and public safety information.
“In previous years, we may have been just zipping by in the jet boat on the way to a training event, but this year, on the way to training, we’d speak to the public, as we’re going by – you know, without creating a huge wake for them,” he said.
Polley said whenever they thought they might be doing more harm than good with their wake, firefighters would pass on by without stopping.
The water rescue jet boat most often used by Cochrane’s firefighters is powered by a Corvette 350 engine, which is powerful enough to get responders up and down the river in a hurry. They have two aluminum jet boats and a Zodiac-type inflatable jet boat that allows them close-in access in situations where rocks or downed trees might be an issue for trapped larger boats.
The fire chief said he noticed more people than usual who were recreating on the river this year were wearing proper flotation devices. He stopped short of taking credit for the improvement, but hoped the education effort was helping.
“They were quite well-prepared to be out on the river,” he said. “Now, I don’t know if that was part of the (education) campaign reaction, or COVID, but overall, water rescues are down.”
As part of Cochrane Fire Services’ six-week “Be Summer Safe” safety campaign, the first week of July was designated water safety week, and the education efforts continued throughout the summer.
Open House
For those who want to learn more about water rescues or other firefighting endeavours, Polley noted Cochrane Fire Services will hold an open house Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Protective Services Centre at 20 Grande Blvd.
Polley said there will be station tours, rescue demonstrations including the jaws of life, hot dogs, and station mascot Sparky will also make an appearance.
“It’s a great way for us to connect with citizens,” he said.
