A comprehensive and intensive 2-day training to protect the safety of first responders managing recovery operations on ice and in cold water.
This course meets international and NFPA 1670 & 1006 standards; successful completion comes with a 5-year certification.
Designed for
Fire departments, Search and Rescue teams, Rangers, and other first responders. I am especially interested in helping Alaska's smaller communities anticipate and train to respond to ice incidents.
Curriculum
Classroom: 4 hours reviewing drowning mechanisms, hypothermia, ice formation, NFPA guidelines, equipment, and rescue systems.
Practical: Exercises designed for response teams. Participants will rotate through 15-20 exercises to gain confidence in their ability to keep their team safe and perform rescue operations:
- Self-rescue with and without ice picks.
- Rescues with minimal equipment: ropes and slings.
- Rescues within additional equipment: buoys, backboards, stretchers, rescue crafts.
- Line handling and hauling.
Learning objectives
- Ice formation and evolution
- The rescue process
- Roles: Incident Command, Primary Rescuer, Secondary, and line handlers.
- Ice and cold water rescue and survival
- Self-rescue
- Recognition and management of hypothermia
- Use of minimal and specialized rescue equipment
Ice Rescue Training involves inherent hazards—we can not guarantee a safe learning environment. We will discuss the safety plan, what can go wrong, and what to do about it.
Certification Levels
Essential Eligibility Requirements
Required Equipment
Safety
Schedule
Contact me (link at top of page) to schedule a professional training.
Meet the instructor
Luc Mehl's work in safety education has earned two national book awards, national public service and risk management leadership awards, and a citation of honor from the Alaska State Legislature.
Luc's courses combine an academic interest in ice, technical training at the highest level, and over 2,000 miles of skating on Alaska's lakes and rivers.
