Keys to the Two-Person Ice Rescue Technique

In the last few decades, ice rescue training has emerged as a critical skill set for fire departments in cold climates, and the fire service has learned many difficult lessons from challenging rescues and underequipped responders.  

Two-Person Ice Rescue & Equipment
Fortunately, there are many pieces of useful equipment available to aid the rescuer. Some of the specialized equipment available includes advanced ropes, tethering devices and slings, modern ice rescue suits, personal flotation devices (PFDs) and inflatable crafts designed to extend the reach of the rescuer. We all know that firefighters can be drawn to shiny new equipment like a mosquito to a light bulb. Each piece of specialized equipment has a purpose, but it’s important for rescuers to remember that equipment choices should support basic rescue tactics. That way, if our latest shiny metal object fails, we can always fall back on our basic skills.

One of the most tried-and-true techniques in ice rescue is the two-person rescue. This technique is simple to learn, difficult to master, and highly effective for a single-victim rescue. It’s an alternative to a single-rescuer technique and should be used (if personnel allows) for situations in which extra victim handling is needed on the ice (i.e., victim packaging, immediate medical care). It also allows for a greater margin of safety for the rescuer, as there is assistance immediately available if a rescuer experiences problems.

The equipment needed to perform a two-person rescue is as follows:
–    Two ice rescue suits
–    Two ice rescue tethers with two large clips in-line (100 to 150 feet long)*
–    Helmets and PFDs per department SOGs
*If necessary, an additional tether line may be attached to the existing tethers to extend workable distance.

The two-person rescue technique can be broken into three distinct phases: approach, engagement and extraction. At each phase of the rescue, there are key objectives that must be met.

Approach
As the team approaches the victim, one of the rescuers should try to establish visual or voice contact with the victim. Once contact has been made, this rescuer is responsible for reassuring the victim and preparing them for extraction. The rescuer should not break this contact with the victim, and should continually assess the victim’s condition throughout the incident.

Rescuers should proceed at a safe pace, advancing across the ice toward the victim. As they reach thin ice, they should stay low and distribute their weight as much as possible across the surface of the ice to avoid breaking through. Each rescuer should have a safety tether connected to them, tended by personnel on shore. In cases where rescuers may need to go beyond the reach of shore lines, rescuers can use safety tethers between them as a last resort, or carry an inflatable rescue craft as a tether point.

Engagement
As the rescuers reach the victim in the water, the rescuer with victim contact keeps the attention of the victim, while the other rescuer approaches the hole in the ice, preferably from the rear of the victim. By approaching from the victim’s rear, it lessens the chance that a victim will grab onto a rescuer, creating problems with extraction. (Note: The rescuer with victim contact should explain that they will be approaching the victim from behind to help them get out of the water.)

Once the rescuer has established a position behind the victim, they will secure a portion of their line around the victim with the attached clip, and attach it to the standing portion of the tether. As the rescuer moves to clip the line, they should use a calm voice to tell the victim that they are working to connect the clip. This can be a sensitive–and critical–phase of the rescue. Conscious victim behavior can be desperate and erratic, and it is important for the rescuer with victim contact to continue an ongoing dialogue with the victim to keep them calm.

Extraction
When the rescuer is ready, a visual signal is given to the tenders on shore to pull the tether. Commonly, this signal is a tap of the rescuer’s head with one hand, in an exaggerated movement. When the line tenders on shore see this signal, they will begin a steady and firm pull on the tether. As the victim and rescuer reach the edge of the ice, it is important for the rescuer to attempt to lift the victim so that they don’t bind or pinch on the edge of the ice. By pivoting the victim, lifting the victim’s legs or by placing a knee between the victim’s legs and lifting them upward at the time of the pull, the victim and rescuer will have a smooth exit from the hole. The rescuer may also be able to support the tenders by pushing themselves as they come out of the hole. As they slide out onto the surface of the ice, the rescuer should take care so that they don’t lay directly on the victim.

The rescuer with victim contact can assist with the extraction from either inside or outside the hole, depending on the needs of the rescue. With a large or heavy victim, additional help may be needed in the hole to lift the victim onto the surface. The rescuer can also relay the signal for tenders to pull the line, as they may have a better line of sight to the tenders. It’s important to note that all ice rescue technicians should be proficient at self-rescuing (rolls and ice picks) to allow all available resources to focus on the victim. Some agencies also use fins to assist the rescuer in moving through the water and for greater propulsion for self-rescuing. This can be a regional preference, dependent upon local conditions.

Sometimes, the ice will break under the weight of the rescuer and victim, and if this happens, the extraction process can be repeated until the ice bears the needed weight. With each pull from the tenders, the victim and rescuers will be closer to safety.

This technique may be modified to use a variety of modern ice rescue equipment, such as floating slings and sleds, but the basic steps of the rescue will remain the same.

Additional Considerations
Depending on the condition of the victim and the rescue scenario, the victim may receive basic medical treatment on the way to shore (for large lakes or more distant rescues). For large lake or distant rescue scenarios, it may prove useful to have an emergency blanket, handheld radio, extra rope or webbing, a PFD for the victim, and a litter basket or Stokes basket available. A dry bag works well to keep these items in good condition until they are needed, and the handheld radio should be used to provide a report on the status of the victim while returning to shore. The victim will be turned over to medical personnel as soon as possible.

One lesson learned from rescue experiences on an inland lake is that mechanized crafts, such as airboats or hovercraft, will damage or change the integrity of the ice, and create a ripple effect across the ice surface, making the ice unstable for a significant range around the craft. This may make it challenging to transition the victim into this type of craft from the ice. Instead of bringing the craft to the rescuers, it may be more effective for the craft to stop and allow the rescuers to approach from a safe distance.

In Sum
Without training and preparation, ice rescue can be a risky undertaking for emergency services. However, with the proper training and equipment, these risks become manageable. By using a systematic approach and following these key principles, rescuers will maximize the probability of a successful rescue.

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