COURSE DESCRIPTION
This 2-day Ice Rescue Operations course takes you from awareness to action—learning how to safely work in thermal protection on actual ice, perform simple repeatable rescues with solid shore support, and help pull people out without becoming the next hole in the lake.
You'll spend most of the time on or near actual ice—working in suits, learning how ice fails, how to move on it without punching through, and how to execute basic contact rescues. Classroom time is minimal and focused: just enough to understand what you're about to do outside.
Content follows current industry best practices and lines up with operations-level intent in NFPA 1006 and NFPA 2500 for ice/surface water rescue, but everything is delivered in plain language and practical drills—not standards lectures.
CORE SKILLS & OBJECTIVES
Scene Size-Up & Safety
- Perform ice-rescue specific size-up: ice type, thickness, weather, access, hazards
- Establish hot/warm/cold zones and safe work areas on and near the ice
- Coordinate with command under ICS and communicate clearly between shore and rescuers
Ice Evaluation & Movement
- Identify unsafe ice conditions, pressure ridges, shore breaks, and moving water under ice
- Move on ice in PPE (crawling, rolling, sled/board use) while minimizing breakthrough risk
- Use spotters, belays, and backup plans anytime a rescuer moves off solid ground
Operations-Level Suit & Contact Rescues
- Don and doff ice/surface rescue suits correctly with partner checks
- Perform basic contact rescues from the ice edge or using sleds/boards within defined limits
- Work as a tethered rescuer on pre-rigged systems managed by a shore team
- Package and move victims from water/ice to shore while managing hypothermia and after-drop
Team Operations & Decision Making
- Run simple, single-victim rescue evolutions from dispatch to demob
- Support operations in reduced visibility or worsening weather within operations scope
- Make and communicate clear "go/no-go" decisions based on ice, weather, resources, and policy
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TRAINING METHODS
- Focused classroom blocks on ice behavior, hazards, PPE, and ICS roles
- High-repetition drills for donning/doffing suits, shore support, and tether management
- On-ice skill stations: movement, approaches, simple contact rescues, victim handling
- Scenario-based training that ties it all together: single-victim and basic multi-rescuer operations
PREREQUISITES & PPE
Prerequisites
- Ice Rescue Awareness (or equivalent knowledge of basic ice hazards and roles)
- Comfort working outdoors in winter conditions
Required PPE
- Approved ice/surface rescue suits for in-ice rescuers
- Type V rescue PFDs as required by local policy
- Water/ice rescue helmets
- Insulating layers, dry gloves, and thermal protection appropriate for local conditions
COMPLIANCE & DOCUMENTATION
This course is designed to align with operations-level ice and surface water rescue competencies in NFPA 1006 and NFPA 2500, while staying realistic for a 2-day format.
Students who successfully meet performance standards and pass evaluations receive an Ice Rescue Operations – 2 Day completion certificate documenting hours, major skill blocks, and scenario participation. Final operational sign-off, task-book completion, and deployment status remain with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
COURSE INFO
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