Emergency workers train for icy water rescues in Ukraine’s Dnipro River
Emergency workers say most ice water-related incidents occur when the victim is under the influence
With a cold snap having hit Ukraine, officials are reminding residents to stay safe around large frozen bodies of water.
In the capital Kyiv emergency service workers are conducting ice water safety and rescue drills.
The first part of the training deals with skills involved in an ice rescue operation, which includes one worker posing as the victim and wearing a cold water suit. The second part of the assignment focuses on more complex cold water situations, with a diver being sent in to rescue a submerged victim.
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In another scenario a drone is sent to drop a life line where rescue workers are unable to reach.
Roman Tkachyk, Head of Kyiv’s Emergency Services: “The drones are vital in for emergency rescue work. To see the situation, and for video recording and for situations like this.”
Emergency workers say most ice water-related rescue incidents occur when the victim is under the influence. Ice fishing, a popular winter pastime in Ukraine, in many cases amounts to drinking alcohol while on the ice.
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Serhiy, Ice Fisherman: “All fishermen have to be a little drunk, otherwise the fish don’t bite. It means drinking 100 mililitres.”
Oleksiy, Ice Fisherman: “It’s for lifting morale, to help get into the fishing mood.”
Rescue workers are strongly urging all fishermen to refrain from all alcohol drinking and to be on alert while on the ice. They also caution that ice conditions change each day and of course remind all fishermen of the age old wisdom: if in doubt, don’t go out!
Source:
(UNIAN Photo)
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