Rescue Someone Who Has Fallen Through Ice

This is an emergency guide designed to quickly give you information you need to help you assist someone who falls through ice into water. Other wikiHow articles provide more detailed information on assessing the safety of ice and surviving a fall through ice on your own. __FORCEADV__

Steps

 * 1) Remain calm and do not run out onto the ice. Would-be rescuers frequently become victims when they fall through the ice as well.  You should avoid approaching the hole in the ice unless the victim is unconscious or in imminent danger of slipping into the water and drowning, either from weakness or an inability to swim.
 * 2) Call for help. Dial your country's emergency number (911 in the U.S./Canada, 999 in the UK, 112 from other European areas and mobiles in Europe), or your local emergency dispatcher to have trained rescuers/paramedics sent to the scene.
 * 3) Try to talk the victim out. If the victim just fell in and remains conscious, he or she can most likely get out without physical assistance.
 * 4) *Tell the victim to calm down. Reassure the person that you know what to do and that you will come to them if necessary.  Let them know, truthfully, that as long as they stay afloat, they have plenty of time.  They'll experience a "cold shock" for the first 1-3 minutes, during which they'll hyperventilate, so the important thing is for the person to keep their head above water.
 * 5) *Encourage the victim to control their breathing. They will most likely be hyperventilating.  Advise them to take deep, slow breaths through pursed lips.
 * 6) *Tell the person to swim to the edge of the ice and use their elbows to lift themselves partially out of the water. Have them go to the edge of the ice where they were coming from, since it held their weight up until that point, whereas the ice around the other edges might be weak. The weight of their wet clothes will probably make it impossible for them to lift themselves up out of the water--the main objective is for them to just get a grip on the edge of the ice, so don't let them waste energy trying to pull themselves out. If they have any keys or sharp objects to use as picks, encourage them to use them, or if you have them, slide them to the victim.
 * 7) *Instruct them to kick their legs and to try to get as horizontal as possible while using their upper body to drag themselves out. They should kick their legs as they would if they were swimming and come out of the hole in a horizontal position (belly against the ice).
 * 8) *Once they are out of the water, advise them to roll away from the hole to avoid breaking the ice again. Don't let them stand up or get on their knees, as that could break the ice.
 * 9) Throw the person a line if they are unable to get out of the water on their own.
 * 10) *Get a rope, extension cord (unplugged), or any other sort of strong line that you can find.
 * 11) *Since the victim's cold hands may not be able to grip the line, tie a loop (not a slip knot—preferably a bowline knot) at the end of the rope and tell them to put their arms through the loop and then bend their arms to touch their shoulders so that the rope is inside the bend of their elbows. Alternatively, they can put the loop over their head and slide it down under their arms.
 * 12) *If you can't find a line, extend the victim anything that can they can grab on to, such as a long, sturdy branch or a hockey stick.
 * 13) *Remain at a safe distance from the weak ice, and keep a strong grip on the rope or object.
 * 14) *Pull the victim out.
 * 15) Perform CPR if necessary. If the victim has stopped breathing or has no pulse, either from drowning or from sudden cardiac arrest, perform CPR (only if you know how).
 * 16) Warm the victim. If the victim is breathing and conscious, bring him or her inside or somewhere warm.  Remove wet clothes and immerse the person in lukewarm water that's no warmer than 90° Fahrenheit, 32° Celsius at first; gradually warm the water up later.  Immersing a victim of hypothermia in water that is too warm can cause dangerous heart rhythms.  If warm water is not immediately available, wrap the person in blankets.
 * 17) Get medical attention as soon as possible. Even if the victim feels fine, he or she should still be examined by a medical professional.

Tips

 * Use a flat-bottomed boat out if you must go out to the victim. Professional rescuers have a variety of tools to safely aid in ice rescues, but if you don't have these things available, a flat bottomed boat can also be slid out on the ice.  If the ice breaks around the rescuer, the rescue can further proceed from the boat.
 * Try sliding a ladder towards the victim by spreading your weight over a large surface. If you must approach, always spread your weight as much as possible.  At minimum, crawl on your belly -- never walk.
 * An ice awl or similar sharp device can help you move about on the ice and secure yourself during the rescue attempt. If you can throw the victim such a tool, he or she may be able to more easily extricate themselves from the water.
 * Many popular skating or ice fishing areas have emergency rescue kits, including rope and buoyancy aids, available.
 * Infants and toddlers who fall into frigid water may go into a diving response, in which they may appear dead even though they are not.
 * Your own clothes could serve as a line if all else fails (yes, it means you'll have to tolerate the bitter cold for a few minutes, for the sake of saving the person in distress...) If you wear a sweater, or some other item not as bulky as overcoat, attempt to use it first. Tie a knot at the end of each sleeve, hold on to one and throw the other to the victim.

Warnings

 * Never go close to the thin ice without being secured or having proper gear for the task. Remain calm and resist the impulse to approach the victim without protecting yourself.   A person in decent shape will usually maintain the strength and coordination to extricate themselves for 2-5 minutes, sometimes longer.  Even after this, if a person remains conscious and can hold themselves partially out of the water, hypothermia is not a major concern, so wait for professional rescuers to arrive unless there is imminent danger of drowning.
 * Do not warm the victim up too quickly. This will cause shock which can be deadly.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Survive a Fall Through Ice
 * How to Know When Ice is Safe
 * How to Call 911
 * How to Administer Adult CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
 * How to Rescue an Avalanche Victim
 * How to Survive a Winter Storm

Sources and Citations
rescatar a un persona que ha caido a través del hielo
 * BoatSafe.com
 * State of Alaska Cold injuries guidelines