The Lloydminster Rescue Squad has got new underwater search and rescue equipment thanks to a $93,000 gift from Boundary Ford. Deputy Chief Ryan Leblanc says its the single largest donation in their history which they used to buy a Marine Sonic towfish system.
“It goes down in the water. So when a family has an accident with a water related incident; so someone drowns, we are able to scan with high resolution equipment and be able to recover that individual in a very timely manner, rather than that family having to wait for an extended period of time for that loved one to be recovered.”
Leblanc pointed out that in one particular operation it took over seven months to recover the body. Their new equipment will allow them to scan a greater area in a shorter time frame, particularly in deep water. In shallow water, he noted that the benefit of the extremely high resolution will be a bonus for this area and as well other rescue operations they conduct on the prairies.
Carly Pollard, Boundary Ford Marketing Manager explained the donation came through the Boundary Ford Gives foundation which gets several requests for assistance during the year. She said the opportunity to partner with the Lloydminster Rescue Squad was a straightforward decision.
“There wasn’t much deliberation about it. When somebody comes up to you and tells the stories that they do and performs the work that they do, it’s an easy decision to be able to contribute that amount of money back into our community.”
The Rescue Squad team is in Cold Lake for five days of training on their new underwater gear led by a tutor from Marine Sonic in the States.