VIDEO: Firefighters have to prepare for most rescue situations. That includes ice water rescues in suits that keep them warm and above the water. “During the fall and spring, as you’re aware with the weather, the heating and cooling of temperatures going up and down so fast, the water does form and melt pretty quickly,” said Bismarck Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshall Adam Miller.
For the victim, falling into freezing water creates a life-and-death situation, and keeping them calm is vital. One important rule for firefighters is to always communicate with the victim. “Just making them feel as comfortable as we can. If we go out there quiet and don’t talk to them, they’re going to be scared. But if we let them know what we’re doing, and if they’re conscious, we need their help holding onto the device, too. So, just talking them through the process,” said BFD Firefighter and Trainer Shane Victor.
After falling into freezing water, a victim can stay conscious for 10 to 45 minutes before hypothermia and unconsciousness set in. So, the following procedure is important. “The rescuer has a rope connected to them, and a sling device. That device, they are going to go out and put around the victim. And that’s a flotation device to keep them up. They’re going to squeeze that around them, and they are going to give hand signals to the guys on shore to pull them in,” said Victor.
Ice may still be thick on some bodies of water around the state, but as the weather continues to warm up, the chances of falling through the ice increase. With its rapid current, Miller advises people not to walk on any ice sheet on the Missouri River at this time.
