On thin ice

HAYDEN — You could call this particular rescue maneuver "a bear hug to safety."

Across the ice Monday at Hayden Lake Marina, Northern Lakes Fire District personnel conducted winter water rescue training. The goal of the exercise was to safely retrieve firefighter Max Evans, who played the role of a victim fallen through the ice.

“I’m cold!” Evans called out to the rescue team assembling on the shore.

I was invited by the fire district to participate in the annual training in order to gain firsthand knowledge of some of the techniques used to stage a rescue. 

Before stepping into the icy water, we were bundled with waterproof suits designed for wintry conditions. Each suit had gloves, hoods and boots that were integrated into the suit. Because the suits are meant to fit a range of sizes, including the attached boots, movement on the ice had to be even more measured to stay level.

Sound was very muffled through the hood, and the gloves added an extra layer of difficulty in interacting with the ropes needed for rescue. A helmet went on top of the hood for another layer of protection.

In order to better line up to secure a rope around the victim, we were instructed to hook a carabiner to a rope around Evans while in a bear hug, but with large gloves in the suit, all usual finger dexterity is muffled by extra padding. Miniature ice picks sat in Velcro pockets on our shoulders, ready to be used to inch up the ice if necessary.

Logan Robideaux took the lead and shouted encouragement and directions at Evans as the two of us waddled our way across the ice. The yellow lines connecting us to the crew on the shore were kept taut as we trekked across the frozen lake. Robideaux called to Evans telling him to watch the crew at the shoreline and not look at us as we drew nearer. 

As coated in protective materials as we were, getting into the cold water didn’t seem as unappealing a prospect as one might think, but an overriding sense of caution was still a barrier to kneeling down at the water’s edge and dropping in.

The suits held firm, insulating us from any chill we might experience. Leveraging to counter the brittle ice, we approached Evans from behind. After a couple of tries, we latched the rope and carabiner under his arms in the water.

“Haul, team, haul,” Robideaux shouted to the shoreline, and the three of us were hauled bodily across the ice and closer to safety. 

As we scrambled to our feet away from the ice break, the next participants in the simulation readied themselves.

We had been the first group to go through the process, so there was some tightening up to do with best practices. Capt. Jerry Moreau indicated the rescue victim needed to be kept either on their side or on their back with the rescuer attached in order to protect the victim from jagged ice or ice shards that could shoot up while being pulled across the ice.

“You’re out there with a hypothermic patient and they’re basically dead weight. When we bear hug them and turn them on the side or to their back, they’re in that nice, stable position, and they’re not interfacing with the ice at all,” Moreau said.

Public information officer Chris Larson added that keeping the victim secured in front of the rescuer also has the benefit of minimizing physical interference if they begin panicking.

“We also come in behind because people with hypothermia can be combative and start fighting the rescuer, because they will do everything in their power to pull you down and under to get out,” Larson said.

“They’ll start using you as a ladder,” Moreau agreed.

The rescuer is pulled and then the victim is towed along with them, keeping control with the rescuer. At any time, they can also call, “Stop,” to halt the rescue measures to untangle a rope or take other corrective steps. 

One rescuer at a time is the usual protocol to minimize efforts and streamline the operation. One of the biggest fears with a single ice rescue is that it will go sideways and two efforts will be simultaneously needed.

“We train to get back to basics and have a sense of preparedness and go from there,” Moreau said.

As the next crews went in and out of the suits to try their hand at rescuing and being rescued, spirits were high.

“Party time,” one firefighter said as he made his way to the dock in his new gear. 

After breaking out and assembling a small pontoon to rescue Forrest Muthersbaugh, Cody Palmer said it was worth it to practice their skills and test the equipment. 

After having gone through ice rescue training a few times, Palmer said, “It’s days like these that make it easier when it’s needed.”

The warmer conditions Monday made getting the training underway easier, but Moreau pointed out there are pros and cons to both warm and cold winter conditions.

“When it’s solid and you can really walk out there, you have to cut through the ice or we have to weaken it up, but right now, it makes it more difficult to do the rescues because it gives way,” Moreau said.

With 29 years under his belt at Northern Lakes, Moreau said rescue equipment has evolved over the years.

“The equipment has definitely improved since that time. About 1998 is when we discovered the rescue sled,” Moreau said.

Larson also noted the new suits put the old ones to shame when it comes to keeping dry.

“They were like sponges,” Larson recalled.

Safety tips for ice fishing

Drill test holes to determine thickness and remember thickness is not always uniform. Holes can be no larger than 10-inches in diameter.

Three to 4 inches of solid ice is the minimum to support a person, and thicker ice is needed for groups.

Beware of conditions that can create weak ice, such as inlets and outlets, springs, or near docks and other structures that can absorb sunlight and weaken ice.

Ice does not typically get thick enough to drive cars and trucks on Idaho's lakes and reservoirs.

10 inches of solid ice are needed to support an ATV or snow machine.

Source: Idaho Fish and Game

    Brad Belmont and Jerry Moreau strategize for the next wave of ice rescue simulations as Chris Larson, Eric Steiger, and Dan Parrish haul Tyler Denham and Tyler Turrell to safety during a rescue simulation with Northern Lakes Fire. Behind Larson, Ryan Altus buckles his helmet.