CEDAR CITY — More than one dozen emergency responders and volunteers recently practiced ice rescue training techniques at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon.
At the start of the training session on Dec. 30, a person-sized opening was made in the ice to simulate a hole that would be made by someone breaking through and falling in.
The rescuers then practiced different recovery methods, first by reaching with a branch or shovel, then by throwing a rope bag.
After that, they took turns putting on specialized rescue suits and going out on the surface of the ice in order to physically take hold of the victim and bring them back across the ice to safety. Each of the participants also had an opportunity to assume the role of the victim in the water.
Parowan Mayor Mollie Halterman, who took part in the exercise, reflected on her experience.
“Once you’re in the water, the suit keeps you warm but your heart rate is definitely racing,” Halterman said. “The suits are bulky and awkward and there is a lot of anxiety moving across thin ice over extremely cold water temperatures toward someone partially submerged out there.”
Training instructor Jeff Morgan, a part-time deputy with the Brian Head Town Marshal’s Office, described the specialized suits as “a big pair of waterproof coveralls that you can put on and zip up.”
The bright yellow suits also have flotation pads and harnesses built into them, he said, adding that the rescuers also carried with them a specialized flotation device called an ice rescue board
“They’ll actually use that to provide buoyancy for the victim and then to help transport that victim across the ice back to solid ground,” Morgan added.
Morgan provides instructor training for different fire and law enforcement agencies around the country. His expertise includes more than three decades of experience as corporate trainer for Dive Rescue International.
“It is a low frequency but a very high-risk rescue,” Morgan said. “It doesn’t happen a tremendous amount but when it does happen, it’s extremely dangerous. People have to be trained in order to safely effect a rescue.”
Agreed Halterman: “It is easy to understand that without this very critical instruction and practice, the rescuer could soon find themselves in trouble.”
Morgan said one primary purpose of the Saturday afternoon session was to provide recertification training for the Brian Head Marshal’s Office and the Brian Head Fire Department, with deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers from Iron County Sheriff’s Office team also participating.
Just as important, he said, the exercise is meant to educate the community about the dangers of venturing out onto frozen ponds, lakes and other waterways.
“One of the things that we’re doing, too, is we’re trying to raise awareness for the public on how dangerous that ice can be,” Morgan said. “If they go out on the ice, and the ice is only, you know, on shore, maybe 3 inches thick. If they get a group of people out there, they can break through. And then, you know, all of the things that happen in a rescue just get compounded by the number of people that are out there.”
As a case in point, Morgan said the very next day after the training, he was on duty and driving down Parowan Canyon when he spotted a group of youths out on the ice at the same pond the training had taken place the previous afternoon.
“Just by happenstance, I came across a group of 12 juveniles that were out on the ice when it was very thin,” he said, “Fortunately, I was able to get them off the ice before any of them broke through.”
“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Morgan added. “It could have been a mass casualty incident with the number of people that were out on the ice. It’s still very thin, and just by the grace of God, they didn’t break through.”
Should you ever find yourself in such a situation where you have broken through ice over a body of water, Morgan offered a few helpful suggestions.
“The person who falls through, if they can, in any way possible, they should try to pull themselves or use their feet to kick themselves up onto the solid ice shelf,” he said. “If they can’t do that, they need to remain calm, and try to hold on to the ice and prevent themselves from slipping underneath the water and have somebody call 911 immediately.”
If you are a rescuer, one of the best tools to have available is a throw bag or something similar attached to a rope, he added
“They can take the throw bag and throw it to the victim and hopefully not have to get out onto the ice themselves,” he said. “The victim wraps (the rope) around their arms several times, and then hopefully the rescuer can pull them up onto solid ice.”
However, Morgan noted, many times the victims are hypothermic and don’t have enough strength to help themselves.
“That necessitates having a rescuer in the proper equipment in this rescue suit, to go out onto the ice,” he added.
On New Year’s Eve, one day after the training session was successfully completed, Iron County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue made a social media post thanking the Brian Head Marshal’s Office for the invitation and expressing their appreciation to all who participated.
“We truly appreciate the relationship we have with the multiple agencies in Southern Utah,” the post stated. “Our ability to train together helps our collaboration when we need to respond to a true medical emergency in the field.”
Mayor Halterman said the simulation training underscores the dedication of public safety employees and volunteers as they strive to improve their knowledge and skills.
“Watching them in action made me even more grateful for what most of us take for granted, our safety and protection,” Halterman told Cedar City News. “Through the actions of these brave individuals making sacrifices of time and resources selflessly on behalf of others, we have an unmatched sense of peace and security.”
Photo Gallery
Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Mollie Halterman, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Mollie Halterman, St. George News / Cedar City News Emergency responders and search and rescue volunteers take part in an ice rescue training session at Forebay Pond in Parowan Canyon, Iron County, Utah, Dec. 30, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Mollie Halterman, St. George News / Cedar City News
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