Lexington Fire Department

1. Lexington Fire Department Ice Rescue Orientation & Annual Refresher Training

2. Motivation • If we don’t intervene successfully, survival is unlikely. • “The victim has demonstrated the ice is dangerous’” • Are you ready to safely perform an Ice Rescue?

3. Ice Rescue Video

4. NPFA 1670 – Ice Rescue • Operations level – Rescuers who will be shore-based• Recognize the unique hazards associated with ice rescue operations.• Identify water and ice characteristics.• Operate surface support equipment used in cold water or ice rescue operations.• Procure the necessary equipment to perform ice rescue operations.• Recognize and deal with a victim’s hypothermia. • Technician level – Rescuers who will enter the water • Self-rescue unique to ice rescue.• The reach, throw, row, and go rescue technique unique to ice rescue.• The use of watercraft, specialty craft, and specialty equipment unique to ice rescue.

5. Overview • Fundamentals of Ice • Equipment used in Ice Rescue • Victim Rescue Operations • Medical Considerations • Practical Exercises

6. Working Fire VideoVolume 04-6Ice Rescue - Part 1 17 minutes

7. Fundamentals of Ice Frazil Ice – is the first type of ice to form. It is composed of disk-shaped crystals suspended in the water. The crystals form a thin, oily, or opaque-looking film that floats to the surface. As the temperature drops, crystals clump together to form a solid sheet of ice.

8. Fundamentals of Ice Clear Ice – is new ice formed during a long hard freeze. It can be blue, green, or black, due to the color of the water seen through the ice. This is the strongest ice formed.

9. Fundamentals of Ice Candled Ice - is a milky, whitish gray ice that indicates deteriorated clear ice. The structure breaks down along its crystalline borders as it melts. Although this ice can still be thick, it is also very weak.

10. Fundamentals of Ice • Influencing factors: • Freezing and Thawing Cycle • Formed in static or dynamic waterway (pond or river) • Ice is 15% weaker if in a current • Snow on top of ice is an insulator, breaks down ice faster • Ice melts around shore first because the land mass is an insulator

11. Fundamentals of Ice • Ice Strength: • 2” Thick - One person can walk on • 4” Thick - Group of people can walk on • 5” Thick - Supports a snowmobile • 8-12” Thick - Supports a car Ice does not form or maintain uniform thickness. DO NOT JUDGE ICE SAFETY ON THICKNESS ALONE!

12. Equipment • Water Rescue Equipment • Helmets, Throw bags • Ice Rescue Suit • Equipped with a built-in harness • A highly buoyant (USCG Type 5), completely waterproof body enclosure made of 100% closed-cell neoprene. • Pike pole, Trash hook, Ladder, Ice awls, Ropes

13. Size – Up Considerations Environment • What are the weather conditions? • What type(s) of ice are present? • Are there hydraulics or other water hazards? • What will we do to mitigate the hazards? • What is a safe distance to keep people back from the area? Patient • What is the nature of the accident? • Location of the patient – distance from shore? • How many people are involved? • Injuries? • Is this a rescue of a live person or a recovery of a body?

14. Size – Up Considerations Equipment • What equipment will be required to mitigate the incident? • Where is this equipment stored? Personnel • What special skills are required for the incident? • Who are the personnel with these skills?

15. What considerations would you note during your size up of this incident?

16. What type of equipment is needed? What skilled personnel are needed? Weather – snowing Vehicle access (distance to roadways) Number of patients / witnesses Shoreline / footing Access Ice conditions / open water Condition of patient / are they able to help themselves? Distance from shore / location of patient

17. Rescue Operations • First Due • Size-up • Location and access information for other responding units • Question Witnesses • Number of patients • Last point scene • Ice construction and strength • Water dynamics • Assess need for additional equipment and resources • Size-up Report to Responding Companies

18. Rescue Operations • First Due • Action Plan • Risk Benefit Analysis = Operational Mode • Rescue • Recovery • General objectives • Establish hazard zone and remove untrained rescuers • Establish cold zone (direct LPD to set security lines) • Find, rescue and transport victims • Make Assignments

19. Rescue Sequence Talk • Attempt to calm the patient, describe to them what it is that you want them to do (stay together, stop moving around, hang on to the ice, look at you, swim towards shore) Reach • Working from shore, the responder can use anything that is available to reach out to the patient: a branch, pike-pole, ladder, inflatable hose, etc. • These options are relatively low risk because the rescuer stays within the safety of shore. Throw • Throwing a rope out to the patient is also relatively safe for the rescuer, because the responder stays on shore. Row • Using boats or other similar equipment, rescuers advance onto the ice or water to get closer to the patient. Go • Any rescue where the responder gets wet, is considered a Go Rescue and is the highest risk option. Go rescues should be carried out after all other options have been considered ineffective / unsuccessful.

20. Firefighter Safety “Row” and “Go” techniques are carried out by technician level personnel. Awareness level responders are only involved with rescue to the extent that they assist with on-shore activities. An awareness level responder should NEVER enter the water or venture onto the ice.

21. Multiple Victims are Common

22. Working Fire VideoVolume 04-7Ice Rescue – Part 2 20 minutes

23. Only trained rescuers should be within15 feet of the water

24. Self – Rescue with Ice Awls

25. Go – Tethered Rescue

26. Don Ice Rescue Suit

27. Shore team dons PFD’s and appropriate PPE (No Turnouts) Rescuer clips into rope with ice awls and a pike poleShore teams anchor rope on shore

28. Rescuer advances onto ice and spreads weight evenly across the surface by staying low with knees bent

29. Rescuer approaches the victim from the side or behind. Do not place weight onto the ice shelf in front of the victim

30. Rescuer slides into the ice hole behind the victim

31. Rescuer places carabineer (first knot) around the victim and back onto rope (creates a cinch)

32. Rescuer signals shore crew ‘OK’ to pull

33. As shore crew pulls, the Rescuer assists the victim out of the holeShore crew retrieves Victim and Rescuer and provides care

34. Cutting Ice

35. Slide the cut ice under the ice shelf

36. Medical Considerations Evaluate the victim’s ability to respond Observing and testing the victim's ability to respond will help determine the method or technique of rescue and the necessity of medical treatment following the rescue. The rescuer should visibly and verbally evaluate the victim‘s responses. Talk to the victim—can he speak clearly? Are his hands holding onto the sheet of ice nearby, or has he lost all movement? The rescuer should stay acutely aware of the victim's ability to respond, note any changes in the status of those responses, and be ready to change the operational plan appropriately. A rescuer should establish contact with the victim, maintaining constant verbal contact throughout the rescue. By maintaining this contact, the rescuer can aid the victim in encouragement, as well as assessing the victim's ability to aid in his own rescue.

37. Medical Considerations Hypothermia Hypothermia is a decrease in the core body temperature to a level at which normal muscular and cerebral functions are impaired. Watch for the “Umbels” - stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles which show changes in motor coordination and levels of consciousness If shivering can be stopped voluntarily = mild hypothermia Ask the person a question that requires higher reasoning in the brain (count backwards from 100 by 9’s). If the person is hypothermic, they won’t be able to do it. If shivering cannot be stopped voluntarily = moderate – severe hypothermia If you can’t get a radial pulse at the wrist it indicates a core temp below 91-86 degrees

38. Medical Considerations Hypothermia Treatment • Remove the patient from the cold environment. • Avoid further heat loss by removing wet clothing, replacing with dry blankets and insulating material. Take special attention to cover the patient’s head. • PASSIVELY re-warm the patient within a warm environment. • If available administer warmed oxygen (wrap oxygen hose around a heat pack). • IV fluids should be kept warm prior to administration (they should not be above 98 degrees).

39. Review Questions • What is the strongest type of ice? • How many inches of ice will support a group of people? • What equipment is needed to perform an ice rescue? • Must a PFD be worn with an ice suit? • What are the factors to consider during an ice rescue? • What is the rescue sequence for an ice rescue? • How should the rescuer approach the patient in the water? • What is hypothermia? • How is a patient rewarmed when pulled from the ice? • What is the “umbels”?

40. Practical Exercises • Don ice rescue suit • Throw rope bags • Cut the ice with an axe • Cut the ice with a chain saw • Self-rescue without ice awls • Self-rescue with ice awls

41. Practical Exercises • Go – Tethered Rescue • Tie rescue rope with carabiner • Approach victim with a pike pole (8 foot minimum) • Speak to victim during approach • Rescue victim

42. Practical Exercises • Submerged Victim Rescue • Probe water with a pike pole to locate victim • Enter water with pike pole to locate victim • Secure victim with rescue rope • Remove victim from the water

43. Are You Ready?