PA Ice Rescue

[rcarovillano]

All,

I am a PA Fish and Boat instructor and the Rescue Training Coordinator at the Montgomery County Fire Academy. Just wanted to drop this note here and introduce myself as you may at some point be encountering some of my instructors out in field. We don't often get good ice for training here in the Southeast so we often have to travel north to find adequate ice for our classes and training. Stay safe and warm!

Thanks,
Rob

[minnook]

Thanks appreciate all you do, hopefully everyone stays safe

[Icemole]

 Are you involved over at Blue Marsh(when we have ice) or is that "in house" through the ACOE ?  I haven't seen them practice but have seen the big hole cut(and marked) off the Dry Brooks ramp.

 Hopefully you or your students never need more than practice.

[rcarovillano]

I know some instructors who have done classes at Blue Marsh but I haven't personally been to that site. Was hoping to get out there this year as its probably our closest effective site when it has ice.

[Spider1]

Thank you for your service. But I can honestly say I hope I never need to see you on the ice... But I'll buy you a beer any time! 

[RuttNutt]

LOL! Spider beat me to it, but THANKS to you and your crew for all you do. I have the utmost respect for first responders............ ......especially after they “saved my bacon” a few years ago.(not on ice)

I hope I NEVER meet you or your crew.................. ...UNLESS it’s at a local “watering hole” and then I will buy the next round! 

[chukkrok]

Listen , Its all good what you do , but please mark you areas with something that alerts fisherman there is a bog hole in the ice, I almost walked into a huge hole where the ice rescue team had practiced the day before, then left the lake without markings the area, it froze over enough overnight to look Just like the rest of the ice!....Someone yelled at me, and that is the only reason I didn't go in!!!.....

[capt.crappie]

Listen , Its all good what you do , but please mark you areas with something that alerts fisherman there is a bog hole in the ice, I almost walked into a huge hole where the ice rescue team had practiced the day before, then left the lake without markings the area, it froze over enough overnight to look Just like the rest of the ice!....Someone yelled at me, and that is the only reason I didn't go in!!!.....

I seen the same type of opening at Tuskarora a few years back. It had a couple cones around it. But a DO NOT WALK HERE SIGN type warning would be nice. Not just a few cones & no explanation.

[rcarovillano]

What do you all recommend for marking? We can uses spray paint but any snowfall would likely cover it. Dont want to leave flagging tape or landscape flags to add to the litter.

[RapShack]

You can auger some holes around the perimeter and put big pieces of brush you find along the shoreline in them.  Do you cut in with a chainsaw then use boathooks to push the slab under the ice?  If so just pull the slab back out when you're done.

[rcarovillano]

You can auger some holes around the perimeter and put big pieces of brush you find along the shoreline in them.  Do you cut in with a chainsaw then use boathooks to push the slab under the ice?  If so just pull the slab back out when you're done.

Yep chainsaw and hooks. We can put the slab back but depending on conditions it wont always reseal itself. I like the idea of some brush. Good idea.

[Icemole]

 If I remember they use weighted cones with poles sticking out at 4 corners of hole. Then wrap caution tape off the poles surrounding the hole.  Rangers remove after it re-freezes... State Parks have limited staff though the winter(I think) who could do the same.

 PFBC, County, Twsp or privately owned lakes.... maybe a local trainee could remove it after re-freeze. Still possible to end up as litter - especially during strong winds - but less likely.

 I would not mark it with tree limbs or other brush as if left on the ice will hold heat and create weak spots later in the season or if we only have marginal ice.

[RuttNutt]

 I would not mark it with tree limbs or other brush as if left on the ice will hold heat and create weak spots later in the season or if we only have marginal ice.

I was thinking the same thing.............

I find it odd that you would need anything more than cones to mark a bad spot. Anyone with common sense knows that cones are used universally to mark a hazard or to direct folks AWAY from a hazard! Are there really THAT many people who do not have enough common sense to figure that out?!

[Stickhick86]

I was thinking the same thing.............

I find it odd that you would need anything more than cones to mark a bad spot. Anyone with common sense knows that cones are used universally to mark a hazard or to direct folks AWAY from a hazard! Are there THAT many people who do not have enough common sense to figure that out?!

I would not ask that question because you know you will not like the answer

[rcarovillano]

Cones work when you are local and can run back to collect them when expecting a thaw....

[chukkrok]

How about orange boat type bumpers, with rope thru them to connect them. form in a circle around said hole, then even if it melts, they would float...just an idea...and it should surely get ones attention..

[rlusk3030]

Appreciate all you do! More ice rescue rigs at launches would be great!

[paramedicjake]

When I teach Ice Rescue we use old Christmas trees to mark the holes or brush when possible

[Mr. Charlie]

I seen the same type of opening at Tuskarora a few years back. It had a couple cones around it. But a DO NOT WALK HERE SIGN type warning would be nice. Not just a few cones & no explanation.

I remember this. There were some locals screwing around on the ice a few seasons ago near this and I was trying to tell them to be careful. It got a bit heated, I’m not sure they understood what I meant with the warning. They see folks out in the middle and assume it’s safe. When I hollered to him he thought I was just trying to keep him away all together. Then I may have yelled at him a bit.

[TIME2FISH]

How about orange boat type bumpers, with rope thru them to connect them. form in a circle around said hole, then even if it melts, they would float...just an idea...and it should surely get ones attention..

Rube Goldberg sez:
How about orange or yellow foam pool noodles to form the circle, then cut some in half, stick a river rock in the bottom so they float sticking up in the air for a more visible warning.
Once it freezes over again, you can yank the half noodles out and you might lose the river rock but no big deal.
https://foamnoodles.com/