Today the Gettysburg Fire Department along with Fairfield Fire & EMS took the opportunity to practice some ice rescue skills at the Adams County 911 Center on approximately 7” of ice. Members practiced moving along the ice safely, tethering, self-rescue, and victim rescue from the water along with shore-based rescue techniques. Members discussed the ice rescue equipment and instructed newer members on the utilization of the ice rescue PPE, ICS, hazard identification, scene size up, availability of resources and patient care considerations.

We would like to remind everyone that there is no such thing as safe ice. Everyone should remain off the ice at all times, if possible, especially if you don’t know the area, the thickness of the ice, changing weather conditions and moving vs nonmoving water. Anyone on the ice should also be wearing a PFD or other type of flotation device, should you fall through.