Safe Operations at Water and Ice Rescue Incidents

This is the Fourth of a six part series ( I know I said five but there is really six...ooops) on safety actions that can be taken at different incidents.

This week I will discuss Water and Ice Rescue

Please feel free to make this page information into an actual checksheet you can use on the fireground. Train all members what you expect and everyone will be involved in the safety process.

This is not a tactical worksheet to be used by an incident commander, but a secondary sheet to be used by a safety person after the fact.

The order of the activities can be adjusted or enhanced for your own departmental needs.

Water and Ice Rescue Emergencies

Establish staging area and operating area.

Establish on scene accountability.

Limit and minimize entry to the launching area.

Insure that all rescue personnel have flotation devices/suits in use.

Determine if adequate boats / rafts available for rescue and support of personnel involved.

Personnel attempting hand to hand rescues should have life lines.

Determine if additional life lines are available and on scene in place.

Minimize the number of personnel involved in high risk rescue situation.

Determine if divers are on scene and set up as a precaution.

Establish an EMS presence on scene for operational crews.

Establish a REHAB area for operating crews.

Establish refreshments and re-hydration capabilities.

Consider establishing a warm area for after the incident for our personnel and any victims.

Determine if there is adequate qualified manpower to support current operations.

Review, Monitor, recheck, evaluate current conditions.

 Conduct an accountability check at any and all points of these steps as necessary.