Ice
Ice Rescue Technician
This course is valuable training for personnel who work on frozen lakes or rivers, or for those who respond to incidents where someone has fallen through the ice. The emphasis is on determining ice strength, identifying risks, self rescue and low-risk methods of rescuing others.
Resource management personnel and outdoor guides will emphasize determining ice strength and hazards as they are often required to work on surface ice for several hours or even days at a time, while first responders will spend more time learning the finer points of a “go rescue” and the Incident Command System as it pertains to ice rescue. All students will cover the full range of skills and knowledge required for certification. This course is compliant with the NFPA 1670 Standard for technical ice rescue incidents.
Details
Duration: 2 days
Format: 1 day classroom, 1 day on the ice
Cost: $349
Pre-requisites
- 18+ years of age (16-17 years with parental permission)
- Basic swimming ability
- In good physical condition
Required Equipment
- Drysuit, survival suit or thick wetsuit*
- Personal Flotation Device (Type III or IV)*
- Water-sport helmet*
- Neoprene footwear with a good walking sole, or running shoes (a bit large to accommodate extra socks)
- Note: winter boots do NOT work well as they get very heavy when wet
- Neoprene gloves or insulated gloves with waterproof gloves overtop (commercial dishwashing gloves work great)
- Layers of down, wool or fleece clothing for under the drysuit
- Headwear including a thin hat or balaclava (pom-poms don’t work under a helmet)
- Hot Shots (pocket warmers)
(* Rentals available - Click here for a list of rental prices and course equipment requirements.)
FAQ
More details about ice rescue courses including what to expect and how to prepare. Click here for our Ice FAQ.
General Objectives
- To develop a sense of confidence and necessary skills for personnel working in surface ice situations on lakes and rivers.
- Develop ability to self rescue and rescue others in surface ice situations
- Familiarize and train the student in utilization of standard ice rescue gear.
Behavioural Objectives
- Have a sound working knowledge of surface ice formation, structure and deterioration on both lakes and rivers.
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of significant medical problems related to cold water accidents including hypothermia.
- Safely walk or drive on surface ice using various techniques.
- Safely extricate oneself after falling into the water through surface ice.
- Utilize rope, technical rescue gear and other equipment applicable to surface ice.
- Rescue and extricate an accident victim who has fallen through surface ice.
- Have a good knowledge of applicable communications systems.
- Have knowledge of law-enforcement responsibilities and on-scene leadership.
- Understand ice rescue team organization and victim responses.
Course Outline
Day 1 - Classroom
- Rescue Philosophy
- Overview NFPA standards (optional)
- Size up
- Management and pre-planning
- Ice processes and properties
- Rescuer safety
- Gear and equipment
- Communications
- Animal handling (optional)
- Knots
Day 2 - On Ice
- Walking on ice
- Ice staff
- Self rescue techniques
- Ice picks
- Shore-based rescue techniques
- Anchoring
- Mechanical advantage
- Live bait rescues
- Continuous loop
- Boat-based techniques
- Using mechanical advantage on heavy loads
- Rescue scenarios
Take Aways
- Rescue 3’s Ice Rescue - Technician Level Manual
- Personalized skill sheet (training record) signed by the instructor (valuable document for risk management)
- Registration of training record in Rescue 3’s international database
- Wallet card with personal Rescue 3 registration number and date of certification
- Certificate of Completion
