Newer ice picks come in both floatable and non-floatable models with retractable tips. Providing a set of ice picks to a victim who still has the strength and dexterity to pull himself out of the hole in the ice can limit the exposure of rescuers for falling through the same ice. Ice picks are a necessary tool for both the victim and the rescuer alike. A retrieval sling is also very useful when approaching a victim via boat and getting them safely into the boat. It is bigger and easier to grasp than a rope throw bag, and the rescuer can clip the ends together to form a high float sling that the victim can slip over their head. Look for bags with a wide mouth (easier to manipulate with gloved hands), rope that floats, and rope in bright colors for easier visualization and tracing when throwing toward a victim.Ī buoyant victim retrieval sling is a device that's floatable and extends the rescuer's reach to a victim by 6 feet. Water rescue rope bags are a critical ice rescue tool as part of the basic water rescue progression: reach, throw, row and go.

Many suit manufacturers also include pockets on their suits so that other ice rescue equipment such as ice claws are readily available for self-rescue. Exposure suits are designed and constructed to provide protection from the effects of cold water (hypothermia) as well as buoyancy for the rescue. Ice-rescue suits, more commonly known as exposure suits or Gumby suits, are the necessary level of PPE for personnel during ice rescues.

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