Ice Fishing Houses
A medical emergency question that I was asked on a test and am not sure how I should have answered it?
I was asked this question on a test and didn’t answer it correctly and want to know how it should have been answered.
You and a friend are ice fishing. Nearby there is a river that flows into the lake causing the ice to be thin. A short time later you hear a 4 wheeler and then a big crack. When you look out your fish house you see two people have fallen through the ice. What would you do?
First of all, GET OFF THE ICE! Scene safety is number one.
Water and ice rescues use an algorithm for rescue: Reach, Throw, Row, Go. Once you are safe and have phoned for help, see if you are able to reach the victims with your hand, a stick, a ladder, anything.
If this fails, attempt to throw the victim a life preserver and more importantly, a rope to grab onto so that you may reel them in.
If both of these methods fail, it may be necessary to row out in a boat to the victim’s location.
Finally, if all other efforts are exhausted and you may safely do so (i.e. you have cold-water rescue gear and people to watch/help you), you may attempt to go retrieve the victim by swimming out there.
Once the victim is safely taken to shore, obtain the victim’s level of consciousness, establish their airway, check their breathing/pulse, remove cold, wet clothing, treat for shock, and begin to passively rewarm them.
Lake Of The Woods Ice Fishing – Life In The Ice House
