Three Words Save Woman in Ice Rescue Near Anzac

Fort McMurray, AB – An Anzac woman is safe thanks to a geolocation system and the quick response of Regional Emergency Services (RES) and local volunteer firefighters.

On Jan. 9, the woman broke through the ice on Whiskey Lake, a small and remote body of water near Anzac. Unable to pull herself out of the freezing water, she managed to reach her cell phone and call 911 for help.

RES dispatchers acted quickly and sent the woman a text message link to EmergencyLocate, a program integrated with What3Words. The geolocation tool assigns three unique words to every 3-meter square on Earth, allowing the woman to easily communicate her position to dispatchers.

Having determined the woman’s precise location, the Anzac Volunteer Fire Department jumped onto snowmobiles and headed to help the distressed caller. By the time firefighters arrived, she had managed to crawl onto land. She was quickly brought to safety and treated for exposure to the cold.

Caution Advised on Frozen Waterways

Regional Emergency Services urge residents to exercise caution when venturing onto frozen lakes and rivers. Ice thickness can vary due to factors like water movement, snow cover, and temperature changes.

When heading outdoors, always inform someone of your plans, location, and expected return time.