Ice Diving

[MAXFACTOR]

What would you do to reach him if he is still on the surface and alive?ANSWER,   
1.  CALL 911
2   TELL HIM TO BE CALM
3.  HAVE PERSON MOVE BACK AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF ICE.   AND SPREAD HIS WEIGHT. 
4.  THROW A SAFETY RING PAST HIM OVER HIS HEAD ETC.
5.  ASSUME YOU REACH HIM WITH SAFETY RING, LINE ETC.  TELL HIM TO SECURE  IT TO HIS BODY IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY.
6.  CONTINUE TO WAIT UNTIL HELP GETS THERE.    do not attempt rescue UNTIL FURTHER HELP.  HOWEVER EVERY SITUATION IS (  SDP ) 
7.  PREPARE VICTIM FOR POSSIBLE SCENARIOS.  "COMMUNICATE WHAT IF SITUATIONS
8.  IDEALLY LIKE OTHERS HAVE SAID, AIR BOAT, BOAT OF SOME KIND, 
9.  Perfect Safe Rescue and recovery.   
10.  Take the guys catch of the day and eat it.

underwater... entirely different story. will complete Tomorrow..   having dinner at Murrays with clients at 6:00  must leave for now.
MAXFACTOR   


Well, I've been busy...   sorry it took so long to get back to this...

The key word here is RECOVERY.



RECOVERY, (That Word)  …. in and of itself should tell you that this is NO LONGER AN EMERGENCY and is now a much more controlled  process for the PROFESSIONALS TO DO.


Unless I just saw or some other person just witnessed the person slip under the ice this is what I would do.   THIS IS ANOTHER TOPIC IN AND OF ITSELF.


This is what I would do.   
TAKE CHARGE OF THE SCENE  unless and until someone in authority relieves you.
1. Immediately call 911.   BE AS CALM AS YOU CAN…. DO NOT HANG UP UNTIL 911 operator says its ok.  You may be on hold for a bit, while he or she is dispatching help to the scene do not interpet silence as though you are not connected.  Give her your name and telephone #   answer every question she has regardless of whether you think its important or not.
2. Give professional the best description of your location that you can.  IE: North end of Bass Lake in the City of _________  ; (remember there are a lot of “Bass Lakes in Minnesota) and your call may actually be going to HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER in another County,  continue….. directly behind the house located at 123 main st.;  in ____ CITY.    About 100 feet from the shore line. 
3. Note time of first information which lead you to believe someone is under the ice.
4. Send a helper to the road to direct EMERGENCY PERSONNEL to your location
5. Get best information:
a. note location   REMEMBER... if one guy feel through another one can too.  Grumpy said the ice was honeycombed,....  do not go out on ice.   if you are on the ice, I would mark it, and leave.
b. triangulate the area
c. permanently mark the direction of the last known location  (stick,   line in snow, etc.)    Make as many observations as you can.  writing them down, because you will forget.....  believe me....
d. look for tell tale signs of possible location :  ie  hat or clothing on water, ice /fishing tackle with no fisherman,   whole in the ice,  dog over whole looking at water,  splashing,  car on ice with no one around etc.  (wife clapping over hole….that’s what mine would have done ( lil.  stinker.)   

6. Secure names & telephone #’s of witness’s….   instruct them that they cannot leave the area, until professionals talk with them.
7. Get as much information as you can.  Write everything down.  NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL IT MAY SEEM TO YOU…   It may be very important information to the PROFESSIONALS.
8. I WOULD NOT ATTEMPT RECOVERY…….even though I have been rescue trained, and have already saved at least one person from possible death, IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT…...  The professionals are trained for this kind of recovery.  And who knows’ maybe it wasn’t an accident,  this may end up being a crime scene. 
9. UPON ARRIVAL From Sheriff’s office, or Police, Fire Rescue personnel, turn over all the information you have.   COOPERATE… FULLY..  DO NOT TRY TO CONTINUE TO RUN THE SCENE.   YOUR JOB IS OVER.. 
10. You can offer your assistance, but remember that the professionals are now in charge and you should not be offended if they tell you to step aside and you should just reside yourself to a job well done.   
11. DO NOT TALK TO MEDIA…..   Let the professionals do that.   You wouldn’t want to say the guys name, until the next of kin was notified first. Etc. 
12. THEN…. When this is all over…  be sure to call the teacher/dive instructor who taught you how to handle an emergency situation.  Call the dive shop and thank them.. etc.     
Be sure to secure and take the guys catch of the day!


ask for a copy of all your notes from the AUTHORITIES, and then without using them as a template,  when you get home,  rewrite the entire situation, to the best of your memory, then reflect with your notes.  KEEP A COPY OF EVERYTHING....  authories may need it or you to testify in the future. etc.
Thats a good start.... but I'm sure there are some other things I will think about later.  EVERYONE..... feel free to add, delete, or make any comments.. 

MAXFACTOR