Ice Rescue

Course Summary:

The focus of this two-day training program is on surface rescue for cold water and ice incidents with an emphasis on personal survival and safety of the rescuer. It is designed to provide the public safety and rescue professional with the knowledge and skills necessary for safe rescue and recovery operations in, on and around ice and cold water.

Date:

Courses are offered to fire services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. If you are interested in discussing a private course, please get in touch with our course director.  

Location:

Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador

Additional Course Information:

A Wilder Experience offers the Ice Rescue course at the Technician, Operations and Awareness levels, depending on a client’s operational needs. The IRT course is an internationally-standardized program that meets/exceeds NFPA 1670 & NFPA 1006 standards, and can be customized to meet the needs of the local First Responder organizations. This intensive and fast-paced, educational program is designed as a foundation for all public safety and rescue professionals, including Law Enforcement, Fire, Search and Rescue (SAR), and EMS Personnel. The focus of the two-day technician training program is on surface rescue for cold water and ice incidents, with an emphasis on personal survival and safety of the rescuer. It is designed to provide the public safety and rescue professional with the knowledge and skills necessary for safe rescue and recovery operations in, on, and around ice and cold water.

Course Day Schedule:

The two-day Ice Rescue Technician (IRT) course is a comprehensive program includes didactic and experiential learning, with classroom and practical on-ice evolutions and training scenarios. The classroom component encompasses 4-hours of instruction, followed by 12-hours of on/through-the-ice practical sessions. During the 15 practical evolutions, each participant rotates through various positions at each station, experiencing the roles of Primary Rescuer, Secondary Rescuer, and Victim. Participants are continually active during the 15 practical evolutions and are responsible for rope management when not serving in the above capacities. After completing the rotation within each practical evolution, the team of students then immediately rotates to another practical evolution.

Subjects and/or practical evolutions include the following:

• The Rescue Process
• Ice Safety Principles
• Incident Command
• Cold Water Rescue and Survival
• Ice Rescue and Survival
• Recognition and Management of Hypothermia
• Use of Specialized Safety and Rescue Equipment

Prerequisite:

The intensive 12-hour practical sessions requires each participant to have exclusive use of an approved Ice Rescue Suit (i.e. Mustand Ice Commander, Survivtec Imperial 1500, Sterns Driflex, Stearns Neoprene I595), which may be rented from A Wilder Experience if required. The IRT Candidate must be in good physical condition and must be comfortable in deep water while wearing a Cold Water/Ice Rescue Suit or Dry Suit with a PFD.

Required Equipment:

Participants must have exclusive use of an approved cold water/ice rescue suit, but rental suits are available.

Course Completion:

Certificates and insignia are awarded to those who successfully meet all educational course objectives including:

• Participation in classroom session
• Completion of all practical evaluations
• Pass the written final examination

Individuals who successfully complete the classroom session and the final written examination, but who cannot participate or successfully complete the practical sessions, will be awarded an Ice Rescue Awareness certificate.