Ice Diving Operations

© Dive Rescue International, Inc. 2008

Schedule

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Morning: Lecture Afternoon: Pool Skills

Diving Emergency Procedures

Skills Test Written Test

Objectives

Divers become well versed in the knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform underwater operations below solid ice.

Identify knowledge related to command and control.

Establish the psychological effects of diving in an overhead environment .

Execute the precautions necessary for safe diving in overhead environment.

Perform lost diver procedure under the ice.

Overview

Psychological Aspects Special Equipment Equipment Problems Unique to ICE Diving Environmental Conditions Usually Associated

with ICE Diving Emergency Procedures Ice diving Techniques

Public Safety Dive operations, statistically is one of the most dangerous jobs performed by

public safety personnel.

The information and skills provided over the next three days help reduce risks, ultimately it

is up to you to continue your education and practical skills.

Psychological Effects of Diving Under Solid Ice

How Do You Cope With Fear of the Unknown?

Trust in your tenders. Trust in your

equipment. Trust in your safety

diver. Trust in yourself. How do your SOP’s

come into play with trust?

Psychological Effect of Cold

Exposure to Cold Water

Exposure to Cold Weather

Special Equipment

Dry Suits Full Face Mask Chest Harness Pony Bottles Surface Supplied Air

Ice Rescue Suits Warm Water Warming Tents Ice Auger Chainsaw

Equipment Problems Unique to Ice Diving

Free-Flows Fogging Hose Connections Freezing Equipment Becoming Brittle

Environmental Considerations Unique to Ice Diving

Temperature Wind/Wind Chill Wet

Temperature

Hypothermia Cold Stress Frost Bite Other Effects Of

Excessive Cold Rapid Heart Rate Breathing a lot

(hyperventilation)

Wind

Wind Chill Factor Greater wind speed, greater loss of body heat

Snow Blindness Inflammation and sensitivity of the eyes caused

by ultraviolet rays of the sun reflected by the snow or ice

Wet

Feet: Water Proof Boots Required Hands: Water Proof Gloves Required

You Can’t Park That There!

Equipment - Divers

Dry Suit w/ Power Inflator

Full Face Mask w/ Communications

B/C w/ Power Inflator SPG (mandatory) Depth Gauge Compass Timing Device

Equipment - Divers

Underwater Light 80 cu. ft. tank (min) Regulators That Are

Environmentally Packed/Sealed

Totally Redundant Air Supply

Chest Harness w/Locking Carabiner (mandatory)

Equipment - Divers

Two Cutting Tools Surface Supplied Air

Source Would Be Optimal

Equipment - Tenders

Warm Clothing (Layered)

Hood or Hat Face Protection Sun Glasses Insulated &

Waterproof Boots Waterproof Gloves Snow Fence/Pallet

Equipment - Tenders

Ice Rescue Suits for Personnel Cutting Hole

Ice Crampons for Personnel on the Ice

Communication Equipment

Warm Water First Aid Equipment

Drown Proof Your Team Members

PFD’s Within 25’ of the Water

Maintain Good Footing Around the Hole Crampons Cinders and Sand Snow Fencing

Self Rescue Techniques Ice Awls

Ice Strength Guidelines

Thin Ice Maximum Load

2 inches One Person Walking

4 inches One Person Fishing/ Group Walking

5 inches Snowmobile

8 inches Car

12 inches

Light truck

P = 50 T2 P = Load Bearing

Capacity T = Ice Thickness

Review of IceWhich is Strongest??

Clear Ice

Snow Ice

Candled Ice

Frazil Ice

Clear Ice

Strongest Ice Formation – Long

Hard Freeze

Snow Ice

Opaque or Milky Porous and Very

Weak Formation – Snow

Frozen on an Ice Sheet

Candled Ice

Milky with Crystalline Borders

Deteriorated Clear Ice

Unable to Support Weight

Frazil Ice

Forms in Turbulent Water

Thin Film that Floats on the Water Surface

BREAK

Overview of Planning Risk vs. Benefit

Size up task or reason for diving

Evaluate dive site Evaluate

environmental conditions

Selection of equipment

Selection of personnel

Planning

Job Assignments Fulfillment of Safety

Guidelines and SOP’s

Team Briefing

Survey of the Task… Why?Risk vs.. Benefit

Training Rescue Recovery

Chain of Events

Analyze the events and actions that have lead to the need for a Risk/Benefit Analysis.

Ask the question is there an event or action in the past that would create risk for this dive?

Environmental Considerations

Ice Thickness Depth of Water Surface

Temperature Wind Speed (Wind

Chill) Underwater Visibility Air Under the Ice

Open water

Wind direction when divers started Wind direction

shifted

Ice Shelf Moved With the Wind

Environmental Considerations?

Selection and Preparation of Equipment

Annual Inspection Moisture Free Air Dry Regulator Environmental Package Keep Equipment Warm Inhalation from Regulator Above Surface in

Extremely Cold Surface Temps… Free Flow

Job Assignments

Divers Tenders Support Personnel

Command Staff ALS Personnel

Operational Safety

Equipment ICE Personnel Emergency

procedures

Radio Channel Pre-Dive Briefing Stay Focused Post Dive Briefing

Incident Command Organization

Designated IC Operations Officer Safety Officer Medical Officer

Dive Team Make-up

Five Personnel Primary Diver Safety Diver 90% Diver (Tent) Tenders Incident

Commander (IC)

Tenders

Focused and Keep Divers Focused

Responsible for their assigned diver from their pre-dive check to their post-dive check. (Neuros)

Dressing Equipment Checks Entry and Exit Assistance

Tenders

Monitoring the Divers Air Consumption (100 PSI per minute @ 18-21 resp. per min)

Communication with Diver

Monitoring the Divers Search Pattern

Tenders Need Monitored for Protection from Elements

Support Personnel

Diver and Tender Assistance

Record Keeping (scribe)

Equipment Handling

Why Perform a Rapid FieldNeurological Exam?

It documents trouble free dives. It determines the extent of nervous system

involvement in the diver who is experiencing a problem.

It promotes early treatment by detecting symptoms promptly.

It determines how well the diver is responding to treatment (baseline).

Rapid Field Neuro Exam Evaluates:

Mental Status Sensations Muscle Tone Balance &

Coordination

Cranial Nerves Speech Sight Eye Movement Facial Movements/

Sensations Head & Shoulder

Movement Hearing

When to Perform a Rapid Field Neuro Exam

Before and After Every Dive Whenever a Diver Experiences Pain,

Discomfort, Alterations in Body Sensations or Function, or any Unusual Difficulties After Diving (within 24 hours)

During the Treatment & Transportation of an Injured Diver

BREAK

Dive Site

Shore/Ice Based Transportation Entry/Exit Points

Entry Point (Hole)

Triangle 10 ft. Sides Ice Auger &

Measure Depth Support Personnel

Cut

Angle your cuts so the ice block slides under easier.

Ice Block

Site Preparation

Cutting Hole

Mark Sides with ¼” to ½” Cuts

Continue to Cut Deeper

Stand Outside of Triangle

Auger Hole 1 ft. from Sides Near Corner

Cut Through to Water on Last Cut

100 Feet

50 Feet20 Feet

Ice Hole

Snow cleared on circular paths

Snow cleared on paths, arrows

Point toward the direction of the hole

Training Site Selection

Look Up!

Hole Safety

Footing Material Around Hole

Stow Plug Under Ice Replace Plug When

Finished Make Dive Site Safe

When Finished

Types of Safety Line

Water Rescue Rope Underwater

Communication Line 3/8 inch comm. Rope

(5,000 lb Tensile Strength)

8 mm comm. rope (3,150 lb Tensile

Strength)

Attach Through Ice

Securing Safety Line

Ice screws

Securing Bar

Safety Line Attachment1. In-Line Figure 8 Knot attaches to divers

chest harness with locking carabineer.2. Arm length out, a second In-Line Figure 8

Knot is tied into the line for a hand hold (loop must be directional towards diver).

Diver Safety

Chest harnesses must be worn by each diver.

Safety line/comm. line must be attached with locking carabineer to diver.

Line Signals

Tender to Diver 1 Tug = Are You Okay? 2 Tugs = Stop, Change Direction, Take Out

Line 3 Tugs = Come to the Surface 4 Tugs = Stop, Danger, Stay Down, Don’t

Move

Line Signals

Diver to Tender 1 Tug = I Am Okay 2 Tugs = I See Object….Need More Line 3 Tugs = I Have Found Object 4 Tugs = HELP NOW !!!!

One Diver Down With a Backup Diver vs.. Two Divers Down

Primary Diver Covers More Ground Better Air Consumption Easier to Manage

Safety Diver Stronger Skilled Diver/Best Problem Solver Fully Suited Ready to Go

Sweep and Circular Patterns

Search

Swivel

ICE ICE

Swivel

Under the Ice

Descend to Working Depth

Begin Search Pattern

Keep Light Tension on the Safety Line

Keep Hand Contact with the Safety Line

Answer All Signals

Under the Ice

Buoyancy Control Monitor Air & Time Know Your

Limitations Know When to

Terminate the Dive Self-Discipline is the

Key to SAFETY

Lateral Distance Formula

S = D2 + L2

S = Length of Line

D = Depth

L = Lateral Distance

S D

L

Limit Ice Diving Penetration to

50 Lateral Feet!!

Under Ice Emergency

Know Your Emergency Procedures

Lost Diver

Stop, look, wait for one minute and begin safe ascent to surface.

Look for light from hole or spokes. Look up for underside of ice. Be vertical and keep one hand on underside

of ice, wait for safety diver or safety divers line.

Be alert for sight or feel of line.

Lost Diver

Stay calm, Relax, Control your breathing, Monitor your SPG. Prepare yourself to remove your full face mask and go to your pony, if available.

When your SPG reads 500 PSI in your main tank, Inflate your B/C and Release, Strip and Ditch your weight belt.

Lost Diver

When safety line is located signal 3 pulls in both directions.

Hold onto line, the tender will pull you in.

DO NOT attempt to chop hole in ice with your dive knife. This only consumes O2.

Lost Diver - Tenders

Mark line when you no longer feel diver. This sets an approximate distance out.

Notify Incident Commander (IC) and Backup diver.

Place marker at the location tender is standing and at location on opposite side of hole in the direction the lost diver was traveling.

Lost Diver - Tenders

Deploy backup diver 30 degrees to the left & 30 feet past that of the lost divers last known position (30/30 rule).

Backup diver swims in a circular search pattern close to the underside of the ice.

When backup diver is deployed the 90% diver moves to the backup position.

Lost Diver - Safety Diver

Backup diver holds rope in right hand. Backup diver ensures good tension . Backup diver swims away from the rope. Backup Diver begins right hand search upon

rope becoming taught. Backup divers right arm should be at a 45° to

compensate for weaknesses while swimming.

Lost Diver - Support

Assist backup diver into water.

Assist returning divers as needed.

Everyone should focus on the rescue.

ALS Personnel should standby to receive the divers.

Lost Diver - 90% Diver’s Role

Don’t Become a Statistic!

Risk / Benefit

Summary

Psychological Effects of Diving Under the Ice Equipment Selection Personnel Safety Emergency Procedures

Have Fun and Be SAFE!!Questions?