Thanks to a partnership between Yukon Energy Corporation and the Whitehorse Fire Department, a new piece of equipment is available for use in rescuing people from confined or hard to reach spaces.
Yukon Energy purchased the $6,500 rescue winch primarily for its Aishihik hydro plant. The plant is 110 meters (about 350 feet) underground, making rescue in an emergency a challenge. However through an agreement with the City of Whitehorse, Yukon Energy has provided the winch to the local fire department, so it can be used in rescue situations for the general public as well as at Yukon Energy’s facilities.
“Before now, we required four people to manually haul a person from a confined space using a system of ropes and pulleys,” Acting Fire Chief Warren Zakus said. “It was a time consuming and labour intensive process. Having access to this new electric winch means we can rescue someone in a fraction of the time, and the equipment can be operated by one firefighter.”
“The system can handle two people at once, allowing a rescuer to accompany a patient,” Zakus added.
The winch can remove two people from a confined space at a rate of just over 12 meters (40 feet) per minute, compare to removing one person using ropes and pulleys at a rate of two meters (seven feet) per minute.
“Everyone wins in this partnership,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “We benefit from the fire department’s expertise and training in operating the winch should our own staff need rescuing, but we are happy that we can offer it for general use in rope rescue situations too.”
The winch could be used in any number of scenarios, including removing people from manholes or rescuing those who have fallen or driven off a steep embankment.
Contact:
Janet Patterson
Supervisor, Communications
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333
(867) 333-5874
janet.patterson@yec.yk.ca
Warren Zakus
Fire Chief
Whitehorse Fire Department
(867) 668-8383
(867) 668-8389
warren.zakus@whitehorse.ca
Comments
Be the first to comment