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Paddlers rescue children Youth able to use newly-learned rescue techniques in a real-life situation after hearing kids cryingJeanne Gagnon Northern News Services Published Monday, Aug 13, 2012
No one was injured in the afternoon incident by the Coppermine River, said Cathy Allooloo, owner of Narwal Northern Adventures. She and her daughter, Tiffany Ayalik, are in the western Nunavut community to teach canoe safety to about 12 youths aged nine to 14. Allooloo said as part of that training, they were paddling from the community along the shore towards Coppermine River when they heard children crying. About five children, in what she estimated were preschool age, were stuck on top of a cliff. "They were pretty distressed when I climbed up to them," said Allooloo. "They were hot and sweating and crying. I think they may have been crying for some time." The youths put to use what they had learned the day before - rescue procedures including how to assess a situation, how to communicate there is a problem, how to decide the rescue method and how to undertake rescues, she added. The group communicated using prearranged paddling whistle signals, explained Allooloo, gathered and formed an assembly line along the cliff, passing the children one to another until they were safely at the base. "I was immensely proud of them (youths)," said Allooloo. "When we conveyed the signals, they knew exactly what to do and they were extremely helpful and they participated fully in the rescue." She added the rescued children had a couple of newborn puppies with them. "I suspect they were just completely sidetracked with having these little puppies and perhaps weren't really paying attention to what they were doing," said Allooloo.
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