Dispatches

Editor's note: Jen wrote this blog on Monday, Nov. 28, but there's a
reason we didn't post it until Tuesday morning. Keep reading to find out
why!

Nov. 28, 2011 – Tonight is our regular training night and we’re doing ice-water rescue.

For those of you that have been following my return to the fire department, you’ll understand why there may be a bit of unease in this scenario as it has been a few years since I’ve done this type of training. Not to mention the fact that the last time I did do ice-water rescue training, it was done through a company out of the States called Dive Rescue International. I understand that we’ve since switched to training under the OFM for ice-water rescue so I’m not sure what I’m in for.

I don’t imagine that it will be much different from my past training experiences in ice-water rescue, although I did hear that there is now a swim test involved, fortunately not tonight, and not in Georgian Bay (or Gloucester Pool, depending on where they decide to do our training). I’m sure they are both about the same temperature . . . a tad on the chilly side. That’s OK though, because we do wear immersion suits when we go in the water so you don’t really feel the cold. Unless, of course, there’s a leak (which is why I always jump at the chance to go first, because if I’m in the suit already and it leaks a little, it’s not too big of a deal, but if you’re the guy going next and the suit is now cold and wet and you were warm and dry, you’re going to feel it a lot more). So, no, I’m not being an eager beaver, there’s definitely a method to my madness. And it’s a really good thing that this won’t be posted until tomorrow so if anyone from my hall does read this, they can’t foil my plan . . .lol!

An added bonus is that it’s not that cold out today. I can remember doing ice-water rescue training in all kinds of weather over the years, but the fact of the matter is that ice-water calls will happen in all types of weather so you just have to deal with it.

It
is nice that for tonight’s training anyway, it’s not -20 though! However, I’m a bit of a wimp so I’m sure I’ll still run home after training and put my nice warm flannel jammies on, warm socks, my pink fuzzy slippers, and my pink fuzzy robe, and see if I can whine enough to get someone to make me a hot chocolate . . . with marshmallows . . . T.M.I.? Probably. Truth? Absolutely!

Stay tuned for how it all turned out tomorrow!