Ice- Water Rescue Questions and
Answers.
Vertical Circulation - Answer The process of cold water sinking and warm water rising from
the bottom to replace it. (Cold water sinks, warm water rises)
Isothermic - Answer When water throughout the body of water reaches the same
temperature and vertical circulation stops.
Thermocline - Answer In a body of water, there is a thin yet distinct layer in which the water
temperature changes rapidly. This layer is called the thermocline and in an isothermic body of
water it is the layer of water directly under the ice, ranging from 0 - 4 degrees C.
Frazil - Answer The first type of ice to form.
What kind of ice is generally the strongest? - Answer New ice formed during a long hard
freeze. This ice is the strongest.
Snow Ice - Answer An opaque or milky-looking, weak ice formed from the freezing of water
soaked snow.
Candled Ice - Answer Ice fingers in an ice surface that is disintegrated or rotting.
Layered Ice - Answer Has a striped appearance. Formed from many layers of frozen and re-
frozen snow.
Crack - Answer A fracture in the ice, which has not separated.
What factors influence the strength of ice? - Answer -Wind
-Snow
-Temperature
-Depth
-Wildlife (ducks and fish)
-Plants
-Pollution
-Fluctuating Water Levels
-Underwater obstructions
, -Currents
-Sunlight
-Rotting Underwater Vegetation
-Age of the ice
-Rocks, logs, pilings
-Ice shifting
-Sun reflection off the bottom near shore
-Presences of water or slush
What is the ONLY absolute when dealing with ice? - Answer No ice is safe ice.
Hypothermia - Answer Loss of body heat resulting in a body temperature less than 37
degrees C (97 degrees F).
Torso Reflex - Answer The extremities contract, leaving a higher percentage of blood in the
torso. Usually occurs from prolonged exposure to the wet and cold.
Laryngospasm - Answer Involuntary gasping that usually lasts 30 to 60 seconds. Occurs from
sudden immersion in cold water.
Mammalian Dive Reflex - Answer -Reduces the heart and respiration rate to a near
undetectable level in children 3 years old and under.
-Victim may appear dead but still be viable.
How much faster does water conduct heat away from the body compared to air. - Answer
Water conducts heat from the body 25 times faster than air.
What are the signs and symptoms of mild hypothermia? - Answer Core temperature at 36 -
34 degrees, shivering, numbness, clumsiness, pain, alert and able to help self.
What are the signs and symptoms of moderate hypothermia? - Answer Core temperature of
34 - 32 degrees, shivering may decrease, increasing numbness, decreasing LOC, decreasing
coordination, slurred speech, pale skin, blue lips.
What are the signs and symptoms of severe hypothermia? - Answer Core temperature of 32
- 28 degrees, shivering stops, further decrease in LOC, decreasing coordination, decreased
respiration and pulse rates.
Answers.
Vertical Circulation - Answer The process of cold water sinking and warm water rising from
the bottom to replace it. (Cold water sinks, warm water rises)
Isothermic - Answer When water throughout the body of water reaches the same
temperature and vertical circulation stops.
Thermocline - Answer In a body of water, there is a thin yet distinct layer in which the water
temperature changes rapidly. This layer is called the thermocline and in an isothermic body of
water it is the layer of water directly under the ice, ranging from 0 - 4 degrees C.
Frazil - Answer The first type of ice to form.
What kind of ice is generally the strongest? - Answer New ice formed during a long hard
freeze. This ice is the strongest.
Snow Ice - Answer An opaque or milky-looking, weak ice formed from the freezing of water
soaked snow.
Candled Ice - Answer Ice fingers in an ice surface that is disintegrated or rotting.
Layered Ice - Answer Has a striped appearance. Formed from many layers of frozen and re-
frozen snow.
Crack - Answer A fracture in the ice, which has not separated.
What factors influence the strength of ice? - Answer -Wind
-Snow
-Temperature
-Depth
-Wildlife (ducks and fish)
-Plants
-Pollution
-Fluctuating Water Levels
-Underwater obstructions
, -Currents
-Sunlight
-Rotting Underwater Vegetation
-Age of the ice
-Rocks, logs, pilings
-Ice shifting
-Sun reflection off the bottom near shore
-Presences of water or slush
What is the ONLY absolute when dealing with ice? - Answer No ice is safe ice.
Hypothermia - Answer Loss of body heat resulting in a body temperature less than 37
degrees C (97 degrees F).
Torso Reflex - Answer The extremities contract, leaving a higher percentage of blood in the
torso. Usually occurs from prolonged exposure to the wet and cold.
Laryngospasm - Answer Involuntary gasping that usually lasts 30 to 60 seconds. Occurs from
sudden immersion in cold water.
Mammalian Dive Reflex - Answer -Reduces the heart and respiration rate to a near
undetectable level in children 3 years old and under.
-Victim may appear dead but still be viable.
How much faster does water conduct heat away from the body compared to air. - Answer
Water conducts heat from the body 25 times faster than air.
What are the signs and symptoms of mild hypothermia? - Answer Core temperature at 36 -
34 degrees, shivering, numbness, clumsiness, pain, alert and able to help self.
What are the signs and symptoms of moderate hypothermia? - Answer Core temperature of
34 - 32 degrees, shivering may decrease, increasing numbness, decreasing LOC, decreasing
coordination, slurred speech, pale skin, blue lips.
What are the signs and symptoms of severe hypothermia? - Answer Core temperature of 32
- 28 degrees, shivering stops, further decrease in LOC, decreasing coordination, decreased
respiration and pulse rates.
