Ice rescues are infrequent. Local firefighters can go a year or more without a call. Then, suddenly, there's a warm spring, and the hard ice that had been firm and secure all winter, suddenly gives way.

A few years ago, that's what happened to a grandmother who fell through the ice with her grandchild."The ice was so fragile," said Lt. Len Hoben of Whitehall Township Station 40. "She was in the water probably 15 minutes, but we rescued both of them. We were lucky."Once a person falls through the ice, unless they are wearing protective clothing, in about 15 minutes they enter the first stage of hypothermia. And it's a challenge for a rescue team to respond in 15 minutes.That's why about 20 local firefighters attended a weekend ice rescue course taught by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which included a day practicing rescues at Mauch Chunk Lake Park."Our department specializes in swift-water rescue as well as ice rescue," Hoben said. "The class on Saturday and Sunday covers how to get yourself out of the water if you fall through the ice and how to rescue other people from the water."The class was led by Len Basara, Joe Perugino, and Phil Hurne. After a Saturday spent on ice rescue theory in Summit Hill, the rescue trainees assembled early Sunday morning at the ice-covered beach at Mauch Chunk Lake Park. Basara and Perugino used a chain saw to cut an opening in the ice about 100 feet from shore. They pushed the sheet of ice under the ice surface, so that, at the end of the practice session, they could recap the ice to avoid leaving a hazardous opening.Hurne examined a section of the ice. The section was about 14 inches deep. He pointed to the bottom of the section, calling it "clear ice," and to the top of the section which he called "snow ice." Snow Ice is what deteriorates first from the sunlight and the heat," he noted."Today, it's all about ice rescue," began instructor Basara. "We start with the simplest and the least risk to the rescuer, with self-rescue or shore-based rescue."Shore-based rescue is a reference to the use of throw bags. The attendees practiced throwing the rescue bags, made all the more difficult as they all wore protective clothing, either dry suits or the quick don survival Gumby immersion suit. Both suits are designed to maintain body heat while in cold water.The 14-inch thickness of ice was unusually deep."If a person falls in through the ice, it's best is to hold on and keep themselves above the water. The water temperature is now isothermic at a uniform 39.2°F.," noted Basara. "Their time in the water is going to be very limited probably 15 minutes before their heart is affected. We're geared for this. We come with medical equipment on any rescue."Basara and Perugino demonstrated a variety of techniques for self-rescue and rescue of an individual. First Basara jumped through the opening in the ice, into the lake. Using a set of ice awls, he pulled himself from the water. An ice awl is a handle with an inch-long protruding nail. It is carried in a set, one for each and. Should the rescuer fall into the water, he can jab the nail into the ice and pull himself out. They also demonstrated the use of the ice staff, resembling a broom handle with a protruding nail at the end that is used in a similar fashion.This was followed by a self rescue without the aid of the ice awl or ice staff. The basic skill in all three maneuvers is to get a firm grip on the ice and kick furiously hard to get your body out of the water.When it came to practicing rescues, Basara said "If they can perform a rescue from shore, that has the least risk to the rescuer. Next best would be a boat platform rescue, followed by a direct contact rescue. Direct contact is high risk to the rescuer because he must go onto the ice and reach the victim. Sometimes that is our only option when the victim's too weak or hypothermia has set in."They demonstrated the use of a sling made out of a plastic swimming noodle. When the rescuer reached the person in the water, he would slide the sling over the victim, and upon a signal, members of the team on shore pulled the victim out of the water. If the sling could not be placed on the victim, the rescuer would enter the water to hold onto the victim as the team on shore would pull both the rescuer and the victim out of the water.Stephen Becker of Summit Hill was the first student rescuer. He had never attempted an ice rescue and was "nervous and scared a little bit," he said."Once I got in the water, it was all right. I learned how to rescue myself and somebody else when they are stuck in the water and ice. You set your staff, and start kicking your feet until you get out of the water. You find an edge you can pull yourself up onto, kick and get away from the hole."One of the most important points garnered from the class is, if you should be the first to arrive at a site where someone has fallen through the ice, first call 911. Then, try to attempt a remote rescue. Do not attempt to go out on the ice alone the rescue team doesn't need to deal with a second victim.