Fire Chief Signature Date Effective: 01apr13 Revised: Page: 1 f 5 Purpse: T establish standards fr GFD peratins when facilitatings ice r water rescue incidents,including safety cnsideratins, respnsibility, precautins, ntificatin, safety cnsideratins, and resurces. First Arriving Officer The first arriving Officer n the scene will be respnsible fr implementing Incident Cmmand as per GFD plicy. The Incident Cmmander shuld begin a size-up that includes: Secure any witnesses that may assist in identifying the prblem and lcating the victim(s). Determine the need fr additinal resurces (persnnel, vehicles r equipment). If additinal resurces are necessary, the IC shall make the requests immediately. Request Emergency Medical Services. Request MABAS card fr Ice Rescue. Assess fr hazards t determine the full scpe f the incident. Assign a Safety Officer (SO) respnsible fr identifying the hazards and adjusting peratins t ensure maximum wrking cnditins. If it is nt pssible t secure hazards, the SO shall ntify all persnnel f the hazards and advise the IC s that an actin plan can be established. Sme hazards assciated with water rescue peratins wuld be: vlume, velcity, and temperature f water, flating debris, unusual drp-ffs, hydraulic effects, and depth f water. I n the case f an Ice Rescue, a survey f the ice cnditins shuld be cmpleted. The frmula is (Thickness f ice)2 x 50 = weight bearing capacity, therefre a 2 thickness x 2 = 4 x 50 = 200 lbs. capacity.). A simple rule f thumb is: 1 inch = Stay Off!! 2 inches = One persn 5 inches = One snwmbile 7 inches = grup activities 8 inches = ne autmbile 9 inches = several snwmbiles 10+ inches = light truck Decide n Rescue r Recvery. Based n the cnditins present and the hazards t rescuers, The IC will have t make the decisin t perate in the rescue r recvery mde. If the IC determines that the peratin will be run in the rescue mde, rescue shuld begin quickly. Decide n an actin plan. Cmmand shuld establish an actin plan as sn as pssible. The step-by-step plan shuld be cmmunicated t all persnnel invlved in the rescue. Establish Grup r Sectr Cmmanders as needed (i.e. Staging, EMS, Rehab, PIO).
Page: 2 f 5 The fllwing chart can assist in making the decisin t Rescue r Recver: Water Temperature (degrees) Exhaustin / Uncnscius Survival Time 32.5 Under 15 minutes 15 t 45 minutes 32.5-40 15 t 30 minutes 30 t 90 minutes 40-50 30 t 60 minutes 1 t 3 hurs 50-60 1 t 2 hurs 1 t 6 hurs 60-70 2 t 7 hurs 2 t 40 hurs 70-80 3 t 12 hurs 3 hurs t Indefinite Over 80 Indefinite Indefinite If the victim has gne under the water and the water is belw 70 degrees Fahrenheit, rescue attempts shuld nt exceed a perid f 90 minutes frm time f disappearance (r time f dispatch if patient was missing prir t arrival). A recvery effrt shuld begin. If the patient has gne under and the water is abve 70 degrees Fahrenheit, rescue attempts shuld nt exceed a perid f 60 minutes frm the time f disappearance (r time f dispatch if patient was missing prir t arrival). A recvery effrt shuld begin. Rescue Operatins Rescue peratins shuld be cnducted frm lw risk t high-risk rder. Make verbal cntact with the victim as sn as pssible. Cmmunicatin with the victim is crucial t the rescue prcess yet it is ften verlked. Talking helps t reassure the victim and helps determine the victim s cnditin and level f cnsciusness. Due t hypthermia and shck, a patient might nt be able t respnd back t yu but the ptential exists that he/she can hear and understand yu. Keep talking even if there is n respnse. Based n the degree f the victim s respnse, decisins can be made regarding the level f risk needed t facilitate a rescue. Rescues shuld be cnducted with the least amunt f risk t the rescuer necessary t rescue the victim. The rder f water rescue frm lw risk t high risk shall be: TALK the victim int self-rescue. If pssible, the victim can be talked int swimming t shre r assisting the rescuers with his/her wn rescue. REACH - If pssible, the rescuer shuld extend his/her hand r sme ther bject, such as a pike ple, t remve the victim frm the water.
Page: 3 f 5 THROW - If the victim is t far ut in the water t reach, rescuer(s) shuld attempt t thrw the victim a thrw bag r sme piece f psitive fltatin such as a rescue ring. Dwnstream persnnel shuld be in psitin during the actual rescue peratin. If the victim is able t grab the thrw bag, the rescuers can then pull the victim t shre. GO - If the abve attempts fail, the IC shuld cnsider putting a rescuer in the water t reach the victim. This is a very high-risk peratin. Only rescuers with the prper training and equipment shuld be allwed t enter the water. Prir t the rescuer actually prceeding int the water, he/she shall discuss the actin plan, including specific tasks and bjectives, hazards and cntingency plans. The rescuer shall never enter the water withut the benefit f a lifeline. Rescue Team Assignments Each rescue team shuld have a minimum f tw rescuers. Team #1 Team #1 will attempt t rescue the victim thrugh the use f the Talk, Reach r Thrw methds f rescue. Rescuers shall attempt t reach the victim by using pike ples, inflated fire hse, ladders, life rings r rpe. All rescuers will dn life jackets. Team #2 During Team #1 s attempts at rescue, Team #2 shall start t suit up in a dive r Gumby suit and prepare life-line hkup and prepare t enter the water if Team #1 fails t retrieve the victim. The grab ring shuld als be prepared with anther lifeline fr entry with the rescuer. Team #3 Will als prepare the same as Team #2 and will serve as the backup team. Any remaining members shuld be used t secure the scene and fr crwd cntrl. Assessing the Victim Once the rescuer(s) have reached the victim, they shuld d an immediate assessment f the victim and determine the exact methd f entrapment. If the victim is cnscius, the rescuer shuld determine if the victim culd assist in his/her wn rescue. If the victim is uncnscius, the rescue must be quick. If the victim can assist in his/her wn rescue, the rescuers shuld prceed with the rescue actin plan. The victim shuld be brught t shre as sn as pssible. As sn as the victim is brught t safety, the patient shuld be cvered with warm, dry blankets and immediately treated fr shck, hypthermia and exhaustin. Safety Cncerns Ensure that it is safe fr rescuers t wrk and that adequate back-up is prvided. Be aware f the training and experience f the firefighters n the scene. Ensure that sufficient staffing is available t accmplish the missin. Make sure that there is enugh safety equipment fr all persnnel perating at the incident, and ensure that all rescuers perating near the ice r water are wearing a life jacket. N rescue shuld be initiated withut a back-up team and shre supprt.
Page: 4 f 5 Additinal Cnsideratins HEAT - Cnsider rtatin f crews. COLD - Cnsider the affects f hypthermia n victim and rescuers. RAIN/SNOW - Cnsider the impact f rain r snw n the situatin. TIME OF DAY - Prvide fr lighting and maximum persnnel fr peratins. Cnsider the affect n family and friends; keep family members infrmed. Cnsider the news media and react accrdingly. Remember that n ne is dead unless they are warm and dead. Line Tenders First check thickness and cnditin f ice (snw cvered, smth, rugh surface r brken). Recmmend is a minimum f six (6) inches f ice t supprt multiple persns and 12 (twelve) inches t supprt any vehicle. Minimum f three peple needed t attempt an ice rescue. Land persnnel near water s edge must wear life jacket. Minimum tw line tenders per tethered rpe. Use different clred line rpes fr sled and rescue persnnel n ice. Ice Rescue Extractin Sled All ice rescue persnnel must be familiar with sled peratin and equipment: Gumby Suit, Buyance Sling, and line tending prcedures. Sled undercarriage has a fur ft nyln cvered cable attached t "D" ring anchr t attach haul line frm shre. Sled undercarriage has an anchr "D" ring at ther end fr ther attachments. Sled's deck has tw small cmpartments with black nyln cvers fastened via Velcr Frnt cmpartment cntains tw red handed "Rescue Ice Awls" attached t a nyln crd fr rescuer t ride and gliding sled t victim. Rear cmpartment cntains a lng red nyln strap attached t a "D" ring, t secure uncnscius victim, r secnd victim t sled during recvery peratins. Near the rear cmpartment there is a large metal ring, and attached t a metal "D" ring there is a lng Black anchr strap labeled "Attach t Rescuer". Sled bttm middle surface has large metal ring with a large yellw nyln hand strap and lng yellw anchr strap with a D ring. Prper Applicatin and Prcedure fr Safety Equipment and Lines Rescuer needs t dn Gumby Suit then release air frm suit by squatting and pulling pen the neck cllar. Anchr D rings are held with pening t bttm, and then pushed dwnward fr quick anchr. Prepare yellw Independent Psitive Rescue Sling by: first securing the sling tw-finger widths away frm the tp rubber blister ring, then adjust the black sizing strap fr either and adult/child. Rescuer shuld dne the rescue sling ver their nn-dminant shulder and rest it acrss their heart with the Sizing strap facing utward. Rescuer shuld attach apprpriate lines via D ring anchr(s).
Page: 5 f 5 Befre leaving shre review with line tenders and/r (I.C.) hw yu plan t rescue victim i.e. in-water, frm ice surface, frnt apprach, rear r side, self-rescue sled reach, r sling with sled tw. Befre leaving shre need t recheck lines: separate clr fr rescuer and sled (yellw, red, white r range nyln rpe). Befre leaving shre pull ut tw red ice awls frm deck cmpartment. Befre leaving shre hk sled in-haul line t tender team. Befre leaving shre rescuer and line tender (s) review hand signals. One hand tuches tp f rescuer s head signals OK. Arm stretched, fist tight ver rescue s head means Stp. Rescuer waves stretched arm verhead in a circle means pull me back. Cld Water Rescue Sled Operatin Rescuer is attached t the lng black nyln strap that is attached t rear D ring n tp surface f sled. Munt the sled and glide twards victim using the awl; r walk pulling the sled if large amunt f snw n ice. Brken int water r brken ice n sled. Crawl ut f water and pull sled ut nce yu are n secure ice. Stp ne sled length (6 ) away frm victim and if cnscius yell instructins. Extend a Bangr Ple t victim fr self-rescue, if available. Dismunt sled t yur weak side then slide/crawl t victim with sling readiness. Grab victim with yur strng hand using ther hand t grab sling. Place sling ver victims secure arm/head then pull their ther arm int sling. Sling shuld nw be under bth victims armpits. Wrap sizing strap arund sling and secure it tight s they are buyant. Pull sled t yu with tether strap. Place sled between self and victim. Pull ½ f sled int water while line tender maintains tensin n the line. Attach victim t large metal ring with clip n Rescue Sling. Rescuer gets int water frm victims side r back psitin. Frm behind victim assist them nt sled. Place victim s hands n sled if they are unable t hld n. Signal line tender (extended arm verhead in a circle mtin) yu are ready t mve twards shre. Line tender must wait several secnds befre pulling sled s rescuer can get int psitin between victims legs. Bth victim and rescuer are pulled t shre.