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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has broken through ice into freezing water — or you are in the water clinging to the ice edge.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person visible in water hole in ice, clinging to edge.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cracking sounds and spreading fractures around you.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blue lips, shivering stopping, confusion — hypothermia worsening.
Scene hazards: Hypothermia, Thin ice collapse, Cardiac arrest on rewarming, Rescuer falling through
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout for help and call 112 — say "person fell through ice".
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If on ice, lie flat and crawl toward the hole — distribute weight.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Throw rope or extend branch to victim — tell them to kick legs to horizontal then pull chest onto ice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Once out, roll or slide away from the hole — do not stand immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wrap in dry blankets. Warm core first — armpits and groin.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Monitor breathing — be ready for CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Ice breakthrough. Person in freezing water. Hypothermia risk. Location [lake/pond name]."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Request ambulance and fire/rescue if available.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hypothermia victims need hospital rewarming even if they seem recovered.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Handle gently — rough movement can trigger cardiac arrest.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT walk upright near the breakthrough edge.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT rub frostbitten skin or use hot water immersion for rewarming.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give alcohol — it worsens heat loss.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pull a person straight up vertically out of an ice hole
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Victims should kick to horizontal and slide onto ice like a seal — ice edges break under vertical pull.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ice edge collapses and both people end up in water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cold water removes body heat 25 times faster than air. Unconsciousness can occur in minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Ice near the hole is weak — rescuers often fall through approaching upright.