Ice Safety and Rescue (ISR)

Pre-course prep

Once you register, you’ll get a link to our online learning platform. You’ll have 3 to 4 hours of independent prep to do, including:

• Go through video and text lessons
• Do short quizzes
• Read and sign your course waiver forms

When you do the prep and learn the material first, it helps pave the way for a great course. We can spend more of the course time practicing where it matters: on and around the ice.

Note: All ‘public’ courses include pre-course prep. If you have a private group, you can choose the online prep or to learn this material in-person instead.

Daily schedule

Get ready for 2 full days: you’ll be in the water and through the ice on both days.

• Typical course hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm
• 100% outside in a controlled setting on a lake, pond, or still river (NO fast current)
• Professional instructors

After registering, you’ll get a Student Information Package with specific meeting times for your course.

Attendance is mandatory

Attendance for 100% of class time is mandatory. If you can’t make a session you must get permission from the instructor in advance. Students who miss a section of the course without pre-approval may be asked to leave the course.

Assessment and evaluation for certification

One of the most valuable aspects of the Boreal River Rescue – Ice Safety and Rescue certification is that it includes practical evaluation. This means that an individual holding the certification has demonstrated competency with ice rescue and not simply attended a workshop.

Your practical skills will be assessed throughout the course within
a supportive, professional, and fun learning environment. You will get multiple chances to demonstrate competency with the skills.

To achieve the Ice Safety and Rescue certification you need to:

• Attend all sessions and participate throughout the course
• Demonstrate an understanding of ice safety and rescue concepts
• Demonstrate your ability to assess ice conditions and perform self-rescues and subject-rescues in accordance with the course standards

Your certification is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.

Recertification in Ice Rescue and Safety

You can recertify by re-taking one of the public 2 day courses. Groups can also recertify with a condensed 1-day recert.

• Get hands-on practice with experienced instructors, a great learning environment, and a well-run, intensive course
• Increase your knowledge of ice to avoid hazardous conditions
• Practice several ice rescue techniques, including how to self-rescue as well as rescuing others using varying levels of equipment
• Gain the tools to carry out effective rescues with limited resources when you’re in the field

Take away materials

• Digital ice rescue certification card
• Digital practical evaluation record sheet (documentation for liability protection)
• Boreal River Rescue toque (warm winter hat)

Knowledge

• General concepts of ice safety and rescue
• How ice forms in lakes, rivers, and the ocean
• How to identify ice crystals, clear/black ice, and white ice
• Sources and causes of weak ice
• Ice strengths and safe working loads
• Personal and group equipment
• Rescue scene management
• Signals and communications
• Related medical topics: drowning and hypothermia

Skills

• Safe methods for approaching weak ice and testing thickness
• Using ice screws and visual identification of cracks
• Self-rescue
• Rescuing subjects in the water far from the ice edge
• Throw ropes
• Contact rescues
• Reaching tools and techniques
• Attaching and pulling on subjects
• Hauling subjects up and over the ice edge
• Rescue of panicked subjects
• Knots, anchors, and basic haul systems
• Chest harnesses and rope systems
• Rescue scenarios
• Optional: self-rescue with no drysuit (just street clothes). You can opt into this at the very end of day-1. You’ll wear a PFD (flotation device) which we provide.
• Elective topic: snow machine extraction

This is a general list of what to bring for your Ice Safety and Rescue course. Please refer to your ‘student information package’ (which you’ll receive once you register) for a complete list specific to your course.

Bring 3 sets of clothing and gear:

1. Clothing and gear for ice water immersion (to be worn in combination with the drysuit / ice suit)
2. Clothing and gear for ‘on land’ and ‘dry’ outdoor practice (still cold and snowy / rainy)
3. Clothing for your travel to and from the course

We’ll provide you with:

• Drysuit or ice immersion suit — rent from us for $55
  You can bring your own but it needs to be in good condition with waterproof neck and wrist gaskets, and waterproof ankle gaskets or built-in socks / booties
• Helmet (ski helmet recommended) — rent from us for $12
• Personal flotation device (PFD)
• Insulated gloves
• Technical rescue gear (ropes, hardware, ice screws, practice hypothermia wrap, etc.)
• Course safety equipment: first aid kit, communication device, rescue sled

Your packing list:

To bring out on the ice

• Backpack  for your food, thermos and extra layers
• Snacks, lunch, and water bottle or thermos
  Keeping yourself fuelled with calories is one of the keys to staying warm and happy. We usually don’t stop for a long food break but instead, take several shorter eating breaks so it’s good to bring lots of food and things that don’t require preparation.
• High calorie snacks (like power bar / chocolate bar) that you can keep in your PFD / drysuit pocket.
• Insulated lunch bag and heat pack (optional)
  This is a nice option for storing food, beverages, medications, phone, and any other items you don’t want to freeze out on the ice
• Personal medications
• Sunscreen, lip protection
• Pencil and notepad / book
• Camera (optional)
• Sunglasses or prescription glasses with strap (optional)
• Ski goggles (optional)

Clothing to wear for ice immersion sessions

• Drysuit + PFD or ice water immersion suit (if not renting from us)
• Ski helmet (if not renting from us)
• Winter hat (thin, ‘beanie’ style) or balaclava that fits under your helmet
• Synthetic or wool long underwear
• Synthetic or wool winter socks
• Boot liners or synthetic ‘hut booties’ or slippers (that go up to your ankle) to wear inside the immersion suit
• Thick fleece or synthetic insulation layers top and bottom
• Toque (warm hat)
• Neck/face warmer
• Warm winter mitts and liner gloves (in addition to the gloves we’ll give you)

*Clothing for ‘on land’ and ‘dry’ outdoor practice (still cold and snowy)

*Note: some of these items are the same as above. However, please bring 2, so you can change into a new one when the first gets wet.

• Synthetic or wool long underwear
• Synthetic or wool winter socks
• Thick fleece or synthetic insulation layers top and bottom
• Outer layer top and bottom: waterproof winter jacket / ‘shell’ jacket & snow pants / ‘shell’ pants
• Toque (warm hat)
• Neck/face warmer
• Warm winter mitts and liner gloves
• Winter boots

Clothing for your travel to and from the course

• Change of clothes and winter boots for your way home
• Gear bag to store your equipment for transport

Clothing for OPTIONAL ‘no-drysuit self-rescue’

At the end of day-1, you’ll have the opportunity (100% OPTIONAL) to experience going into the ice water with no drysuit and rescuing yourself. (Your instructor will be right there and closely watching you if you need a hand).

You’ll wear a PFD (flotation device) — which we provide — and ‘street clothes’ or base layers.

If you’re considering doing this, please bring:

• An extra set of street clothes or base layers which will get soaked
• A bag or container to transport the wet stuff in afterwards
• Optional: other outdoor gear or work clothes you want to try falling in the water with
  Examples: xc-skis and poles, snowshoes, work coveralls, winter boots or ski boots, snowmobile suit and helmet, etc. Keep in mind these will be soaked afterwards.

Pricing for the 2-day Ice Safety and Rescue course

• Group of 10 to 12: $459 CAD per student—plus instructor travel costs
• If you have less than 10 people, the per person price is higher

What’s included in a group course?

• 2 full days of professional instruction
• Immersion suit – $75 CAD / person
• Helmet – $12 CAD
• All technical rescue equipment and group safety equipment
• Find out more about group training

Customized training

While the Ice Rescue and Safety courses have standardized curriculums, we’ll work with you to customize the training and delivery according to your group’s needs. Instructors choose training sites and design practice drills that are relevant to your group’s type of work and available resources.

Please contact us to get for more on information on customizing courses and combining ice safety courses with other training.