Early responders – they must be honoured: Heroes are human

Recovery, not rescue - very difficult.
The undercurrent is terrible at Bala Falls.

This new initiative (2014 Heroes are Human Tour) PTSD made me think about our crews, again:

PTSD affects at least 24% of emergency services crews in Canada

Having long been an advocate for our fabulous volunteer firefighters, as well as paramedics, local and provincial OPP, I have consistently written: Honour our First Responders!

Friday's Lanark County fire:
Fire in Rideau Ferry was rather scary.I've come across my fair share of good people. I remember when we called an ambulance for my late father, a neighbour (a firefighter volunteer), turned up even though he wasn't on duty. When paramedics turn up at the door, you have such a sense of relief, knowing the professionals have arrived. It is comforting. Someone else can take charge.

I spent some time being a Victim Services Volunteer. That gave me an inkling into what that pager means; hearing those inevitable Friday afternoon sirens in Muskoka, knowing crews were being dispatched, waiting for a call, and wondering what was happening.

Bala Falls - a dangerous place to swim.
It took hours to recover the bodies.

I remember my first, and only, call: for a neighbour checking in on someone and found he had committed suicide.

I remember that fateful summer in Bala, when we had too many drownings, a father and an uncle, non-swimmers whose families were swimming at Bala Falls. This kids were wearing life jackets and drifted out with the current, but the men sunk in the undertow trying to bring them back. Such a dangerous practice, swimming there.

Most ignore the signage.

swimming at Bala Falls.
They is much controversy around
resurrecting this hydro dam!
See Bala Falls Hydro Project

Danger - fast water

The recovery was difficult for all involved.



People might wonder why I would create this video, but it demonstrates the fine work of our emergency personnel, as well as the number of female volunteers in Muskoka.

Also, it helped the families overseas, who failed to understand why the two men were not saved. A family member commented on my video:

You are right I talked to my cousin (Barad Bhais wife) and she told me that rescue team did best to get them out alive, but it was unlucky, we all are very sad. We can understand that how painful is this to lose your love ones. Thank you for giving us glimpse of that area which some how some relief. We wish we could do some thing. Lots of prayers and God bless you all.

Men and women work hard

PTSD is a concern:
You could see the impact on the faces and through the body language of the volunteers. The crowd, seemingly fascinated with the lurid event, were silently honouring the crews. I don't think the EMS crews understood this. We could empathize, and were grateful they were there to recover the bodies, and help the families, relieved the victims were not our family members.

Directing traffic in 2009
Many chose to watch the rescue effort.

Drowning Statistics 2008

This amazing volunteer went to his wife,
who was directing traffic, and gave and got a hug.
You can see the stress in his weary shoulders.
BLess his heart.
Bala Falls drowning 2009

Drowning statistics 2009
Drownings in Ontario - Statistics 2010
Drownings in Ontario - Statistics 2011

Critical incident stress management is an important part of preventing and/or identifying PTSD. Putting all the stories together, your realize the enormity of these tasks; this is terribly hard work.

Pros and volunteers work together.
Muskoka Lakes fire #3 and 4 were in attendance

We honoured their work,
even though they didn't sense
that the crowd truly respected them.

The poor family was distraught

BBDE critical incident first morning here!

fire and rescue

Kemptville incident

Merrickville demo

Bala: Muskoka Lakes fundraiser

Smiths Falls crew

2 more found in the water

When will they learn? When will they ever learn?
A family swimming in the Bala Falls. The 9-year old child, with a life jacket, floats out with the current. The two men were trying to save her, which they did.

I walked into town, the EMS crew sirens always scream the worst news. The ambulance zoomed by, sirens blaring with the first victim. One is in hospital on life support.
And I saw much grief and shock in many faces as I walked along when the 2nd victim was taken out of the water.

"Two Men pulled from Bala Falls, " reports the Gravenhurst Banner.

I saw a firefighter walk over to his wife (who was directing traffic) and, with tears in his eyes, got a hug from her and went back to finishing up the job. What a man to be proud of. Who can imagine doing such a job? Our volunteer firefighters are always there at the scene, as well as the paid professionals. I bow to all in honour.

The impact on family members of those who die is profound. No question.

The impact on our incredible First Responders cannot go unrecognised. Incredible men and women who do the unthinkable. Pulling dead bodies from the water. How difficult a job. I know that the ambulance attendant who helped take my failing mother to hospital the day before she died felt grief.

I look at our wee granddaughter, and understand how much she can be loved. How they can put themselves, and the EMS crews at risk? Why do people insist on taking risks?

There have been extreme warnings. Yes, in the 'good old days' people went swimming in rapids. But these are NOT the good old days. With Climate Change and a cool, rainy July, the waterways are high, flooded and fast-moving.

One of the crew told the spectators to move on and off the bridge. "This isn't a spectator sport." I don't think it is so much a sense of gawking, as much as relief it is not OUR family. We are concerned. We want to hope that there is a chance of a rescue. We respect what the men and women in blue do. And those who risk their lives to recover those who perish.

AND I am so proud of our crews.
It is a comfort to know what a good job they do. It is relief to know that whatever happens, they are there and treating those who choose to participate in dangerous activities with dignity and respect. They treat the victim's families with dignity, too.

They are not accidents when you know there is a risk involved.

And if they did not know about the danger, they they haven't listened to every media report over the past part-week, as well as the ads on TV warning people about fast water and hydro dams.

"They were jumping off some rocks located above a fall," said Ontario Provincial Police Insp. Ed Medved. "There was foamy, aerated water - so they were swimming in bubbles which is virtually impossible, plus very strong currents in very turbulent water. This was a very dangerous and deadly spot to be swimming in and it was unfortunate they chose to do that."

One dead Friday, no lifejacket, bouncing on a wave and thrown. Boating causes more accidents, especially fishing.

Then 3 drowned Sunday on the Moon River Falls. They found the first body 24 hours later, the 2nd the next day, and finally found the third body today, Wednesday. It is a marvel to watch the video of crews at work. They have guts.How can they do this?


There was a plane crash in which two died. I read somewhere that his friend told him that at age 75 he ought not to be driving a plane. How much danger do seniors put themselves in, as much as 20-somethings? Is there a test for those driving a highly dangerous transporation medium as this?
Their plane did not clear the trees. This looks like wind or pilot error. What a risk he takes. We have seen planes on our lake that barely clear the trees. The wind is unpredictable.

In March we lost a mother and daughter through the ice.
Bodies recovered from Muskoka lake
15 Mar 2009 ... Police have recovered the bodies of a mother and daughter from the cold waters of Lake Rosseau in Muskoka Lakes Township.

Be safe. Remember someone out there loves you. Stay out of fast-moving water.