5 Steps for Rescuing Someone Who Has Fallen Through Ice

Preach

Let's start with preach.

It's not about proselytizing. It means to yell instructions to the person. Don't get too close. You don't want to be the next one to fall in by getting too close to the same thin ice. There is a reason the victim broke through, and that's nearly always because the ice is too thin to support the weight of a person.

Encourage the victim to keep trying to stay afloat and not to give up. You're letting him know you're there and you're trying to help, but you're going to do this safely.

Reach

If you can talk the victim out of the ice, wonderful! If not, your next best bet is to try to reach him.

Reach out to the victim without leaving shore. That means staying on land, not on the ice.

If you can reach the victim without getting on the ice, that's ideal. Use ladders, poles, or anything handy to reach the victim. In some areas, ice rescue tools are available for the public. Don't go any closer to the victim or further on the ice than you have to go.

Throw

If you can't reach the victim with a ladder or pole, try to throw them a line.

Throw something to the victim and pull them out. A throw rope is made for this purpose, but you can also use jumper cables or garden hoses—whatever is handy and strong enough to pull the victim from the water. If possible, have the victim tie the rope around her before hypothermia makes it difficult for her to maintain her grasp of the rope.

Row

If you can't reach and you can't throw something. You'll have to get the victim yourself. Take something to float on. When rescuing a drowning victim, this step is called row. You're probably not going to row on the ice, but you should at least float.

Row, or float, out to the victim. In the case of ice rescue, push a flotation device out to the victim. If the ice breaks again, you'll be floating on the cold water underneath instead of swimming in it.

Whatever flotation device you use must be durable enough to handle ice. An inflatable pool mat is probably not going to survive being scraped along the icy surface of a frozen lake. Professional rescuers have flotation devices designed specifically for ice rescues. These are tough enough to handle contact with the ice and remain ready to keep rescuers afloat if the ice breaks.

Go

When all else fails (or is unavailable) you might just have to go get him. In this case, it's best if the professionals can do it. However, we all know that the clock is ticking as long as the victim is in the icy cold water.

If you must approach the hole in the ice, don't walk upright. Lay down and roll or slide up to the edge. Your body weight will be spread over a larger surface area, making the ice less likely to break more. Combine going with reaching; use whatever you can to reach the victim without getting too close to the hole in the ice.

Treat Hypothermia

Falling through ice to the cold water below is a truly life-threatening situation and requires quick action. It only takes a minute or two before the victim becomes too weak to escape the water on their own. Once back on the ice, the victim is still in danger of falling through again or of succumbing to hypothermia. They might also have frostbite. Saving a victim from icy water is dangerous, but following these few simple tips can help.