Get ice safety training and certification. You’ll gain knowledge and learn how to assess ice conditions—so you can make good decisions and work safely on the ice surface. You’ll also get hands-on practice and experience with both self-rescue and rescuing others who fall through the ice.
This course includes 4 to 6 hours of online learning followed by 2 full days outside.
Your training will take place in a controlled setting on a lake, pond, or still river (NO fast current) with professional instructors.
Join one of the ‘public’ courses from our course calendar or our instructors can travel to your location for group training.
Learning outcomes
- 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 techniques for self-rescues and rescuing others
- Gain the tools to carry out effective rescues with limited resources when you’re in the field
Take away materials
- Digital certification card
- Digital practical evaluation record sheet (documentation for liability protection)
- Boreal River Rescue toque (warm winter hat)
Topics covered
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
Course format and overview
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.
Equipment and clothing to bring
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:
- Clothing and gear for ice water immersion (to be worn in combination with the drysuit / ice suit)
- Clothing and gear for ‘on land’ and ‘dry’ outdoor practice (still cold and snowy / rainy)
- 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)
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.
Group training pricing and details
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.
See our group training page for more on information on customizing courses and combining ice safety courses with other training.
Be sure to read our cancellation policy.
Upcoming Ice Rescue courses
- Morgan L 06 Jan 2021I just completed an Ice Safety Workshop with BRR and have previously completed a whitewater rescue course with them as well. Both experiences were amazing and I highly recommend them for any of your first aid/safety/rescue training needs. Instructors are kind, professional, personable and knowledgable and courses were well planned and thought out. Theres no one else I would choose to take a course with after my experiences here.read moreread less
- Nicolas Roulx 23 Jan 2020J'ai suivi les cours de Wilderness First Responder et de Ice and Safety Rescue avec Boreal River. En comparant avec les autres compagnies et écoles de formations avec lesquelles j'ai fait affaires par le passé, je peux dire que Boreal River se distingue nettement grâce à l'excellence et au professionnalisme de ses instructeurs, à la rigueur des contenus enseignés et aux simulations pratiques "hands-on" qui ont lieu tout au long des formations. Plus précisément, le talent pédagogique légendaire du fondateur Danny Peled est l'une des raisons pour lesquelles j'apprécie tant Boreal River! Vous ne pouvez pas vous tromper en faisant affaire avec eux.read moreread less
- Trenton Spence 25 Mar 2021I have now completed swift water rescue and ice rescue training with Boreal River. Both courses were completely hands on and gives you a true appreciation for water and the hazards it may pose. Jimmy P. was my instructor for both courses and was very knowledgeable about rescue techniques. These courses equip you with the skills and confidence to explore the outdoors. I highly recommend Boreal River.read moreread lessKathleen Minkowski 04 Feb 2023Danny was an excellent instructor. The ice training course he conducted was not overly complicated and all of the rescue techniques we learned were very effective for a real-life application. There was a lot of time to practice and become comfortable with basic rescue skills. It was a really fun day as well, learning interesting facts about ice safety and putting on the immersion suits to get in the water and practice. Would highly recommend this course!read moreread lessPaimei Lew 06 Mar 2021Very useful course if your an outdoor person and or work outside. The course was well prepared, the instructor take times to explain all concept and you get to practice exercise in real cold water. Definitely you will have a lot more confidence if you ever need to participate in a cold water rescue or even if you fall yourself in cold water. A+read moreread less
- Nick VanSnick 06 May 2022Did Ice Rescue Training with Jimmy and it was fantastic. Jimmy is a wealth of knowledge and a great teacher. It was super beneficial to have an extensive hands on portion for this training. I definitely feel confident in my skills because of the amount of practice that we got.read moreread less