How to Use Dry Suits for Ice Rescue

Ice rescue is inherently dangerous. The greatest risk to the rescuer during ice rescue is the air and water temperatures. Hypothermia sets in within five minutes when submerged in icy water, unless you are prepared with insulating clothing. Ideally, a proprietary ice rescue dry suit should be used, but a standard rafting dry suit is also a viable option for rescue. Due to the technical nature of ice rescue and the omnipresent danger, do not attempt any rescue without proper training. There is an adage in search and rescue that states "we don't bring extra victims to an accident."

Things You'll Need

  • Midweight polypropelene long underwear
  • Wool socks
  • Rescue rubber booties
  • Scuba balaclava
  • Lightweight poly glove liners
  • 9mm neoprene gloves
  • Personal Floatation Device (PFD)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pull on the midweight layer of long underwear and tuck the shirt into the bottoms. Pull polypropelene socks over the legging bottoms. Keep skin from being exposed.

    • 2

      Step into the dry suit legs and bring the torso portion up to the waist. Pull the center cinch strap to secure the dry suit to the waist, reach around to put the arms through the arm holes and force the hands out through the wrist gaskets.

    • 3

      Pull the neck of the dry suit over your head and pull the gasket over the neck. Constriction will take place, but not enough to cause disturbances in breathing. Zip the dry suit up to seal the suit. Bend over and pull out on the neck gasket to bleed excess air from the suit. Pull the rubber rescue booties over the feet of the dry suit. Pull the neoprene balaclava over the head and then put on the glove liners and the neoprene gloves.

    • 4

      Put the PFD on over the dry suit; not only does the PFD provide buoyancy it also adds an extra level of insulation over the core.

    • 5

      Inspect the dry suit's elbows and knees after any rescue. Look for leaks and small holes. The elbows and knees are in contact with the ice when crawling to entry points along the ice and are susceptible to punctures.