Private research shows that approximately 85% of ice-rescue incidents from 2006 to 2008 were triggered by people who ventured out onto the ice in an attempt to rescue their pets. This statistic highlights the need for proactive measures from the fire service.

Fire-rescue departments need to emphasize to the public the need to control pets and to prevent them from going out onto the ice. No ice should ever be considered safe ice. Also, fire-rescue departments need to educate the public to call 911 rather than attempt to rescue their pets themselves. Finally, first responders must be trained and equipped to properly, effectively and safely respond to domestic animal rescues on and through the ice.

In February 2004, the National Fire Protection Association published NFPA 1670, Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. This standard specifically deals with identifying and establishing levels of functional capability for conducting technical-rescue operations safely and effectively. The standard was designed for all types of technical rescues, including water- and ice-rescue operations.

The standard is intended to assist the authority having jurisdiction to:

1. Assess the technical-rescue hazard within their specific response area;

2. Identify the level of operational capability needed; and

3. Establish operational criteria.

As a responder to technical-rescue incidents, the department needs to determine the level of response it is compelled to provide. The department then must plan for it, train for it and allocate the necessary resources to manage it.

NFPA 1670 tells departments to establish levels of operational capability, based on hazard identification, risk assessment, training level of personnel, and availability of internal and external resources. This standard also advocates establishing written standard operating procedures consistent with one of these operational levels:

• Awareness, the minimum capability to respond to technical rescues.
• Operations, the capability to respond to technical rescues and to identify hazards, use equipment and apply limited techniques specified in this standard to support and participate in technical rescues.
• Technician, the capability to respond to technical rescues and to identify hazards, use equipment, and apply advanced techniques specified in this standard necessary to coordinate, perform, and supervise technical rescues.

Once the operational level has been identified, the department should establish standard operating procedures consistent with its level of capability to ensure that operations are performed in a manner that minimizes threats to rescuers and others. The department must then provide for training and continuing education to meet the responsibilities that are commensurate with the operational capability of the organization. Finally a department must buy the equipment necessary to train for and perform technical rescues.

Many first-responder organizations have established policies that prohibit responding to any type of animal rescue due to the inherent risk and danger posed to their personnel. But if trained professional rescue personnel don't respond, then the public will do so at great risk to themselves. And, in doing so, the incident can escalate from an animal at risk of drowning to a human victim or multiple victim incident at risk of drowning.

For first responders to safely and effectively respond to any type of cold-water and ice-rescue incident, they must have the appropriate personal protective equipment. This should include an ice-rescue suit with integrated gloves, rigid sole boots, hood and harness system. Other PPE equipment could include a helmet, cleats and ice awls. In addition, the rescue personnel must be tethered to shore at all times with line that is specifically designed for use in water and on ice.

In addition to this equipment, any rescue personnel venturing onto the ice or into the water to rescue an animal should be equipped with an animal control pole. The pole allows the rescuer to safely snare and restrain the animal while keeping it a safe distance away.

Restraining the animal is for the animal and for the rescuer. On Dec. 13, 2007, New Jersey firefighters responded to a detention pond for a report of a dog that had fallen through the ice. On arrival, two firefighters donned their ice rescue suits, sledded onto the ice and made their way to the hole where the black Labrador was paddling in the frigid water. As the firefighters scooped the dog out to rescue it, the dog bit through one of the firefighter's gloved left hand, breaching the suit and penetrating the skin. The firefighter suffered a broken finger and an infection, as the wound was contaminated by the pond water.

As a result of this incident, the firefighter was out of work for 12 weeks. Although the doctors were able to set the break, they placed the firefighter on intravenous antibiotics treatments for three weeks because of the infection. To make matters worse, the firefighters also developed a case of shingles, a painful skin rash he believed was caused by stress from the injury.

The focus of any ice-rescue training program should be to prepare rescue personnel to safely and effectively respond to incidents on and through the ice. Training in the use of PPE and in personal safety and survival skills should be paramount. Rescue skills should include the use of a variety of equipment, procedures and techniques and should include rescue protocols for both active and passive victims, the management of suspected spinal injuries, and domestic animal rescue.

Public safety and rescue agencies need to preplan ice and water rescue incidents, and personnel need to be appropriately trained to safely and effectively respond to incidents on and through the ice. Collaborative discussions and preplanning also should be conducted with the community animal control officers. Humane Society, www.hsus.org, or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, www.spca.com, representation also can be brought into the loop. Besides the appropriate personal protective equipment needed for water- and ice-rescue incidents, first responders should also obtain animal control poles to prevent the animal from compromising the equipment or safety of the rescue personnel.

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Gerald M. Dworkin is a consultant in aquatics safety and water rescue for Lifesaving Resources.

Class Dates

Lifesaving Resources sponsors and conducts technician-level courses and train-the-trainer academies. Scheduled for 2009 are:

Professional Aquatics Safety Seminar
Jan. 4, College Station, Texas

The Scared Straight of Aquatics
Jan. 5, College Station, Texas
Feb. 24, Miami

Ice-Rescue Technician
Jan. 17, Harrisville, N.H.
Feb. 7, Harrisville, N.H.
March 14, Harrisville, N.H.

Water Rescue Awareness
Jan. 29, Milwaukee, Wis.

Drowning in the Courtroom
Feb. 9, New Orleans

Ice Rescue Train-the-Trainer Academy
Feb. 19-22, Hancock, N.H.

Swiftwater-Rescue Technician
April 11-12, Harrisville, N.H.

Water Rescue Train-the-Trainer Academy
May 28-31, Keene, N.H.