EDMONTON - The memories of two children who drowned recently in Ontario are on John Blaicher's mind as he jumps into the icy water of a man-made lake.
Kishoban Alakeswaran, 15, died in hospital after he fell through the ice on a pond near his Toronto home in early December. His 11-year-old friend, Brunthan Nadarajah, drowned eight days earlier while trying to rescue him.
"I think of the families that had to celebrate Christmas without their two young children,'' says Blaicher, one of Canada's leading experts in water and ice safety.
Several young children were watching intently Saturday as Blaicher, known as "The Iceman,'' jumped fully-clothed into the freezing water several times, to show the crowd basic survival techniques.
Trey Campbell, an eight year old who lives near the lake, says he often plays on the frozen lake, but didn't realize ice is never 100 per cent safe.
"I learned of the safety and how thick the ice should be and what I should wear if we're doing stuff like that,'' the boy says following the half-hour ice rescue demonstration sponsored by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Every year, 25 to 30 Canadians die after plunging through the ice. Rivers or streams are the most dangerous because the thickness of the ice is most uncertain when the water is moving.
A half-dozen firefighters dressed in specialized rubber suits surround Blaicher as he jumps through a large hole cut into the ice-covered lake. The fire rescue team holds a rope attached to his waist as he disappears briefly under the water before surfacing to continue his lecture.
"We need four inches of clear, solid new ice to support the weight of one person walking,'' he tells the crowd.
Blaicher will take his safety message to 10 cities across Canada this winter, including Toronto, Calgary and Plaster Rock, N.B.
The ice rescue expert is shivering when he emerges for the final time from the frigid water. He spends 20 minutes inside an ambulance warming himself, removing his wet clothing and drinking hot chocolate.
"It's all about getting trained, wearing the right gear, not consuming alcohol to make sure you're doing things sober,'' he says. "The biggest mistake is that people under estimate the quality of ice they're venturing out onto.''
The demonstration starts with Blaicher pulling a water-soaked winter parka from the edge of the ice. The garment is weighed down with about 40 kilos of water, an example of how certain types of clothing can quickly become a death trap in freezing water.
Blaicher recommends people fishing, skating or riding a snowmobile on the ice wear clothing that doesn't easily absorb water, including a buoyant snowmobile suit. A rescue kit is also a must for those spending time on the ice, including ice picks that can be used to pull yourself onto the slippery edge of the ice.
"Drowning is what kills most people, not hypothermia,'' he said. "If you can get the sudden cold shock response under control, you have about a 10-minute window to get out and onto the ice surface.''
The next biggest mistake people make is standing up too quickly once they're out of the water onto ice, instead of crawling to safety.
"They break back through the ice and then they don't have the energy to get themselves out that second time.''
But Blaicher also emphasizes that you should call 911 for help if you see someone fall through the ice, rather than venturing out yourself.
"Encourage them to hold on, coax them to preserve their heat by packing up in a ball or helping get out themselves, but do not go rescue them,'' he told the crowd.
"People get caught up in the panic. They try to go help their loved one, their friend and even their dog and you end up with another drowning.''
