SOP# 39: Cold Water/Ice Rescue Procedures

Question 1

Ice rescue is defined as?

Answer 1

any incident where members must perform a rescue of a victim or victims on a frozen or partially frozen cold water of the various lakes, ponds or any other body of water

Question 2

At a cold water/ ice rescue the tactical objectives are?

Answer 2

1. Provide for responder safety
2. locate victim or where victim was last seen
3. secure scene
4. assemble necessary manpower and equipment

Question 3

When parking vehicles for ice/water rescue priority should be given to?

Answer 3

Dive Trucks
Rescue Companies
ice shuttle equipment

Question 4

All members working on the ice shall wear an?

Answer 4

ice/cold water rescue immersion suit and be tethered by floating rescue line to shore, boat or ice rescue shuttle with a min. of two (2) rescue line tenders.

Question 5

What shall rescue line tenders wear?

Answer 5

personal floatation device (PFD)

Question 6

T or F: Stearns or Mustang brand anti-exposure coveralls are cold water rescue immersion suits?

Answer 6

F: they are not to be used for on ice or in a water rescue operation.
- for shore or boat work and may be used in place of (PFD) and protection from weather element.

Question 7

What should be used for tethering rescuers or victims?

Answer 7

Only floating water rescue line

Question 8

Who should be on the ice?

Answer 8

only members directly involved

Question 9

What should all members working near the ice wear?

Answer 9

Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or anti exposure coverall

Question 10

What shall be worn when available?

Answer 10

Ice rescue helmets

Question 11

Upon arrival companies responding to ice rescue incidents shall?

Answer 11

form Ice Rescue Teams

Question 12

How will Ice rescue teams be assembled?

Answer 12

One (1) member wearing cold-water rescue immersion suit w/MARSARS ice rescue shuttle system w/ ice rescue sling or other aid and floating water rescue line and 2-shore/boat line tenders wearing personal floatation devices (PFD)

One (1) member wearing a cold-water rescue immersion suit, w/ floating water rescue line using a floating rescue item such as a rescue sling, life ring or PFD and 2 shore/boat line tenders wearing personal floatation devices (PFD)

Question 13

What are first arriving company objectives?

Answer 13

1. Size Up (nature, # of Victims , relay to FA)
2. Secure witnesses (utilize police) (last location)
3. Secure the scene
4. attempt to rescue victim

Question 14

How long should the floating water rescue line be?

Answer 14

550’ each = 1 rope reel

Question 15

Ladder company objectives include?

Answer 15

Supply equipment to scene as needed/support current operations

stokes litter
Longest straight ladder

Question 16

Who is responsible for victim from shoreline to rescue vehicle?

Answer 16

First rescue company

Question 17

What is the responsibility of second rescue company?

Answer 17

Rescuer’s needs

Question 18

What are the key words to remember for ice rescue operations?

Answer 18

Reach – Pole, ladder, etc
Throw – life ring, rope bag, etc.
Row – use a boat
Go – on the ice to rescue victim w/ proper equipment

Question 19

Ice rescue communication may be difficult between shore and suited rescuer? what methods are there?

Answer 19

Preferred method direct verbal communicaiton

hand signal
- pull in (one arm held up and waving)
- Stop (one arm held up steady)
- need assistance (tapping on the water)

Question 20

Breaking ice mantle prematurely?

Answer 20

victim may not be able to stay afloat and you risk loss of the victim

Question 21

What should a suited rescuer that nears the victim do?

Answer 21

stop 6 or 7 feet short and ask are you alone

Question 22

When should we enter the water at an Ice rescue?

Answer 22

Only if victim is unable to assist

Question 23

In multiple victims on Ice rescue procedures, triage consideration order of rescue should be:

Answer 23

Victim in most danger of submerging
size and age of victims (children + elderly are most vulnerable)
Hypothermia symptoms
Time in water of victim
most viable rescue

Question 24

How are drowning victims that first sink to the bottom found?

Answer 24

often found in a radius equal to the depth of the water

Question 25

What should be requested as soon as a report of a submerged victim is received?

Answer 25

Dive team

Question 26

For ice rescue what should be used during night time operations?

Answer 26

Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) + Flood lights

Question 27

If victim is not visible for ice rescue what should be done?

Answer 27

Conduct interview + determine last seen point
Request dive team
split witnesses + interview
return witness to exact location, ask what happened
create line of sight reference point, used fix objects
if more than one (1) witness, use triangular reference to narrow point.