From the warmth of your office, coffee in hand, you gaze out the window at the beauty of the snow flurries falling softly to the ground. It is a frigid day outside, but calm so far. Instantly that changes – a dispatcher on the radio frantically advises that a man has fallen through ice. You are the first on scene, and see a man half submerged in a lake as he uses every ounce of remaining strength to cling to a ledge of ice. Your mind races and you ask yourself, “Do I know what to do, do I have the right equipment, and am I trained for this?”
Article by William Lusk
Tentatively Published in Small Craft Advisory, NASBLA's Official Publication
Law enforcement officers, fire fighters and first responders across the country are tasked with scenarios just like this every winter. Understanding the need to share ice rescue “best practices” and the latest in tools and technologies to augment them, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard to host the 1st Biennial International Ice Rescue Operations Training & Meeting. This multi-day event will be held February 23-27, 2015, in Bay City, Michigan, and split into two components – a full ice rescuer course and a two-day symposium.
The decision to locate this event in Bay City takes advantage of the U.S. Coast Guard’s nearby National Ice Rescue School (NIRS) in Essexville. Those electing to participate in the ice rescuer course will be trained by U.S. Coastguardsmen and NASBLA Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Instructors at the NIRS February 23-25. This course meets and exceeds the NFPA 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. Participants of the course will be trained on the ice using techniques and equipment vital to successful rescues.
Commander Karl Willis (USCG Ret.), Search and Rescue Program Manager at the USCG Ninth District, said, “For almost 15 years the Coast Guard on the Great Lakes has honed their ice rescue skills, implementing, testing and evaluating equipment, processes, and the skills necessary to save lives in the ice – absolutely one of the toughest environments to operate in. The National Ice Rescue School located in Essexville, Michigan, in partnership with NASBLA is hosting a three-day Ice Rescue course ‘championing’ what that 15 years has taught us. If you are a first responder working in the ice, you need to be there!”
A symposium will be convened February 26-27 in downtown Bay City to share best practices and learn from key speakers. Capt. John Little, chief of staff of the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District, will be representing RADM Fred M. Midgette, commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, as he is a strong supporter of the program and its efforts.
Another key speaker at the meeting is Butch Hendrick, president and founder of Lifeguard Systems. In the last 50 years, he has trained more than 40,000 divers and water rescue teams in 15 countries. Further, Hendrick has famous innovations critical to ice rescue such as the Rescue Throw Rope Bag, the Diver Do-Si-Do Rescue Procedure, the Ice Rescue Staff, and more.
The agenda for the February 26-27 meeting is ambitious and will cover topics such as the effects of cold water injuries, dynamic ice, training to a national standard, ice search techniques, and the way ahead for ice rescue. Panel discussions by leading experts will supplement presentations and lectures to foster an interactive and educational atmosphere.
The symposium has an exciting element added to the agenda: an outdoor demonstration segment allowing several vendors to showcase their products and technologies in an actual ice rescue environment. Exhibitors including American Airboat Corp., Atlas Outfitters, MARSARS Water Rescue Systems, and WISE Technology will be on-site to answer questions as they have the opportunity to demonstrate in the adjacent Saginaw River.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is one of the many agencies that will be represented at both the ice rescuer course and the symposium. Lt. Kenton Turner, boating law administrator for Indiana, sees enormous benefit for the state by sending multiple representatives to the International Ice Rescue Operations Training & Meeting.
“Indiana is a state that fluctuates in winter temperature from north to south, creating an environment of uncertainty with regards to ice formation on our bodies of water. Invariably, our conservation officers are called to ice rescue situations because of misinterpretations and unpredictability of the ice by our recreating public. Indiana conservation officers have a history of success in ice rescue responses. A national ice rescue operations discussion will provide opportunity for our agency to learn from other first responding agencies, to examine our current policies and response attitude, and to use our experience to contribute to federal procedures and instruction,” said Lt. Turner.
For registration information, please visit www.internationalicerescue.com. A special discount of $25 is afforded to all NASBLA members for all levels of registration, including the ice rescuer course.
Emphasizing the value for NASBLA members to participate, Mark DuPont, director of NASBLA’s BOAT Program, said, “Ice rescue is a mission in which our members and emergency responders throughout North America are engaged. And the mission of NASBLA’s BOAT Program is to prepare those rescuers through the recognition of best practices, the sharing of critical information, and the subsequent development of a professional national standard of training. February in Bay City, Michigan, is an opportunity to bring it all together.”
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