Chapter 9 - Ice Rescue Operations Flashcards
Pumps that blow air or circulate water around structures or boats to keep ice from forming
Bubbler
Strong transparent ice, with no rotting or melting. Strongest of all ice, it offers good working conditions if the thickness of the ice is matched to the function being performed on it.
Clear Ice
Melting of ice around objects that carry heat into the water. A prime example is metal stairs being warmed by sunlight and melting the ice immediately around the metal; it may weaken surrounding ice, even in below-freezing temperatures
Conduction Melting
A large piece of ice not directly attached to a shore
Drift Ice
Coats or Jackets that offer surface warmth and flotation in the same garment
Float Coats
Ice that is in the formation stages and looks very ragged. Weak ice, but continued cold temperatures change it to clear ice.
Frazil Ice
Small kits comprising a fire hose cap, plug, and valve to allow inflation of a section of hose. This hose is then snaked or pushed out to a victim on the ice.
Hose inflator systems
Condition in which one’s body temperature is lower than 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35°C)
Hypothermia
Small, handheld tools used to dig into the ice to provide a grip that helps a rescuer pull himself or herself out of the water and onto the ice surface.
Ice awls
Coverall-type suits used by rescuers or workers around ice that provide warmth, flotation and the ability to stay dry
Ice rescue suits
Using pike poles or paddles to push a boat across the hard ice surface
Poling a boat
Any device for water rescue that can be extended to a person in the water so that he or she can grasp it and be pulled to safety without physically contacting the rescuer. (NFPA 1006)
Reach tools
Ice formed on moving waters in creeks, streams or rivers. It can be very hazardous to rescuers in that the water levels under the ice may vary, weakening it, and may subject rescuers to moving water under the ice surface.
River Ice
The typical Ice that rescuers have to deal with on missions. It can be several inches thick, yet still weak enough to fail without warning. It usually has been subjected to melting, sunlight, warmer temperatures, or other environmental factors to destabilize it.
Rotten Ice
Escaping or exiting a hazardous area under one’s own power. (NFPA 1006)
Self-rescue
Ice with a layer of snow on top
Snow ice
Anything that can be thrown or launched to a victim to provide a means of flotations
Throw tools
An evolution with one piece of flotation equipment being tied between two lines. The lines are then used on opposite banks, with one bank pulling the flotation out to the victim.
Two-line tethering
The cardinal rule in dealing with any ice surface is to remember that it:
a) will support the weight of only one rescuer
b) requires special footwear for safety
c) may fail at any time
d) will require multiple resources
c) may fail at any time
Ice that has been thawed slowly and has a milky or opaque look is known as:
a) sheet ice
b) frosted ice
c) frazil ice
d) rotten ice
d) rotten ice
_______ is caused by the heating of other surfaces warming the small, immediate area around an object where it touches or enters the ice.
a) contact melting
b) Conduction melting
c) Direct melting
d) Friction melting
b) Conduction melting
Shivering, rapid breathing, and numbness in limbs are signs and symptoms of:
a) mild hypothermia
b) severe hypothermia
c) moderate hypothermia
d) aggressive hypothermia
a) mild hypothermia
Most victims will be found in an area _____ times the depth of the water at the entry point.
a) 5
b) 2.5
c) 1.5
d) 4.3
c) 1.5
Drift ice can range in size from:
a) a few square centimeters to a few square inches
b) millimeters to inches
c) a few square inches to a few square feet
d) a few square inches to a few square miles
d) a few square inches to a few square miles
An evolution with one piece of flotation equipment behind tied between two lines, which are then managed from opposite banks, with one side pulling the flotation out to the victim is called:
a) flotation tethering
b) line rendering
c) two-line tethering
d) bank assist rescue
c) two-line tethering
Pumps that blow air or circulate water around structures or boats to keep ice from forming are known as:
a) defrosters
b) bubblers
c) heat pumps
d) ice breakers
b) bubblers
Ladders, pike poles, oars or paddles can be used to reach a victim if necessary:
a) True
b) False
a) True
Ladders, pike poles, oars or paddles can be used to reach a victim if necessary:
a) True
b) False
a) True
Large ice floes are the most common sites of immersion rescues.
a) True
b) False
b) False
In an ice rescue operation, which action should generally be taken first?
a) Providing the victim with some sort of flotation
b) Taking a sounding
c) Getting clothing/shelter to the victim
d) Establishing an evacuation route/method
a) Providing the victim with some sort of flotation
What is the cause of unsupported ice?
a) Migration of the ice floe
b) Underwater springs
c) River current flow under the ice
d) Dropping water level under the ice
d) Dropping water level under the ice
What type of ice has a milky or opaque appearance?
a) pancake
b) Frazil
c) Rotten
d) River
c) Rotten
Metal steps have warmed from the sun and melted the nearby ice. What is the term for this?
a) Contact warming
b) Conduction warming
c) Gradient heating
d) Localized melting
b) Conduction warming
Which is the predominant effect of wind and wave action on ice?
a) Addition of weight to the surface
b) Erosion of the underside of the ice
c) Erosion of the edge
d) Acceleration of melting
c) Erosion of the edge
A melting ice surface provides good traction for rescuers maneuvering on it.
a) True
b) False
b) False
Tender ropes can flash-freeze to an ice surface.
a) True
b) False
a) True
What are signs and symptoms of moderate hypothermia? (6 points)
Muscle Stiffness
Intense Shivering
Loss of coordination
Difficulty speaking
Unable to use hands
Mild confusion
What are signs and symptoms of severe hypothermia?
- Shivering stops
- Exposed skin is blue or puffy
- Muscle rigidity
- Loss of awareness of others
- decrease in Pulse and respiration rate
- possible death
What is a sign/symptom of moderate hypothermia?
a) Exposed skin is blue or puffy
b) Rapid breathing
c) Muscle Stiffness
d) Numbness in limbs
c) Muscle Stiffness
Water wicks body heat away ______ times faster than air.
a) 3
b) 10
c) 15
d) 25
d) 25
During an ice rescue, it is highly recommended that operations level rescuers operating in boats wear:
a) foul weather gear
b) float coats
c) ice rescue suits
d) drysuits
c) ice rescue suits
What is the primary function of an ice awl?
a) Serve as an anchor point for a rope system?
b) Provide grip for climbing out of the water
c) Serve as a temporary mooring anchor point
d) Check the condition and depth of ice
b) Provide grip for climbing out of the water
If you start to feel the ice break underneath you, what should you do first?
a) Leap in the direction of approach
b) Flip over onto your back
c) Extend your arms directly to the side
d) Cover your face with your hands
d) Cover your face with your hands
Should an accidental fall through the ice take place, it is possible to get out of the water and back on the ice surface without any equipment.
a) True
b) False
a) True
When used for ice rescue, which size fire hose is used with an inflator system?
a) 1 in.
b) 1.5 to 1.75 in.
c) 2.5 to 3 in.
d) LDH
c) 2.5 to 3 in.
When an inflated fire hose is used for ice rescue, which item is commonly attached to the male end?
a) Ring buoy
b) PFD
c) SCBA quick connect fitting
d) Victim Harness
a) Ring buoy
In general, which type of boat is preferred for an operations level row rescue in ice?
a) Canoe
b) johnboat
c) Runabout
d) Inflatable
b) johnboat
All of the following statements about poling a boat during an ice rescue are correct except one. Choose the exception:
a) A tag line is used to pull the boat in the direction of the victim
b) Rescuers should be lashed to the watercraft
c) Approach an ice shelf stern-first from the open water
d) Polers should push in unison
a) A tag line is used to pull the boat in the direction of the victim
What is the most common form of operations-level support for technician-level ice rescue operations?
a) Reach tactics
b) Victim medical care
c) Serving as helmsman
d) Tending tether lines
d) Tending tether lines
What does a hand signal consisting of a raised arm and with a chopping motion indicate?
a) Go
b) Give slack
c) Stop
d) Take up slack
b) Give slack
What is the most effective treatment rescuers can provide for victims of hyperthermia?
a) rapid transport to a hospital
b) Warm IV infusion
c) Replacement of wet clothing with blankets
d) Hot packs in the armpits and groin
a) rapid transport to a hospital
In general, which treatment is sufficient for rescuers suffering from cold exposure during an ice rescue?
a) replacement of wet clothing with blankets
b) Warm IV infusion
c) Rehab with hot liquids by mouth in a warm environment
d) Hot packs in the armpits and groin
c) Rehab with hot liquids by mouth in a warm environment
When checking an ice rescue suit after use in an incident, pay particular attention to:
a) tears and abrasions
b) contamination
c) seam separation
d) zipper operation
a) tears and abrasions
Following an ice rescue evolution, how should a hole in the ice be marked, if at all?
a) leave it unmarked
b) Post signage warning of the potential hazards
c) Use barrier tape
d) Use pavement striping paint
b) Post signage warning of the potential hazards
