Ice Rescue Instructor Academy

Course Summary:

The International Ice Rescue Instructor Academy is an intensive and comprehensive 4-day program designed for training public safety and rescue personnel for cold water and ice incidents, certifying participants to conduct nationally/internationally recognized and standardized Ice Rescue Awareness, Operations, and Technician level courses within their own department/agency.

This course prepares participants to safely and effectively respond to rescue and recovery incidents on and through the ice, as well as in, on and around cold water. The course meets and exceeds NFPA 1670 and 1006 Standards for Technical Rescue.

Dates:

The current Ice Rescue Instructor Academy course schedule is available on our Course Registration page.

Location:

Portland, Maine

Additional Course Information:

The Lifesaving Resources Ice Rescue Instructors Academy trains representatives of Public Safety and Rescue organizations as Lifesaving Resources’ Ice Rescue Instructors.  Participants are taught to safely and effectively respond to rescue and recovery incidents in swimming pools, flat-water beaches, lakes, oceans, waterparks, etc., as well as in moving or swift water environments.

This course includes over 45 contact hours of classroom and practical instruction. Six (6) 3-hour practical sessions are included within the Academy’s schedule with 1 session conducted in the evening (Night Ops).

Course Completion:
Upon successful completion of the Academy, graduates are authorized as Lifesaving Resources Ice Rescue Instructors for 3 years and will be authorized to conduct Ice Rescue Awareness, Operations, and Technician-level courses on behalf of their own Public Safety and Rescue agency. In order to be eligible for re-authorization, instructors are required to conduct a minimum of 2 courses (Awareness, Operations, or Technician level), one of which must be a Technician-level course, within the 3 years.

Prerequisite:
Instructor candidates must be in good physical condition, must have the endorsement to participate from their department/agency Chief or Training Officer, should have prior teaching/leadership experience, and must be comfortable in deep water while wearing an approved Ice Rescue Suit.

The 4-day Ice Rescue Train-the-Trainer Academy is a very intense and comprehensive training program and instructor candidates must be dedicated and committed to participate fully with classes conducted daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Ice Rescue Instructor candidates must:

  • be a minimum of 21 years of age
  • be in good physical condition
  • be an active member of a Fire, Rescue, EMS, or Law Enforcement agency
  • be designated and approved to participate in this training by their department/agency chief or training officer
  • be comfortable in deep water while wearing a Cold Water/Ice Rescue Suit
  • be capable of crawling on the ice, propelling oneself through the water while at the surface, and self-extricating oneself out of the water and onto the ice shelf

Instructor Candidates will be provided with a confirmation packet prior to their arrival that contains pre-requisite reading assignments that must be completed prior to the start of the Academy.

Required Equipment:

Ice Rescue Instructor candidates must have:

  • a Cold Water/Ice Rescue Suit for use during the weekend training program (rental and loaner suits will be available)
  • a set of Ice Awls/Picks for use during the weekend training program

If assistance is required in selecting appropriate equipment, please contact Lifesaving Resources.

Daily Course Schedule:

The Academy will be conducted in a fast-paced, boot-camp style, and Instructor Candidates must be prepared to put in 110% effort to successfully complete the Academy. The Ice Rescue Instructor Academy is a very comprehensive and intensive training Academy. Instructor candidates must be well-rested and prepared to participate in this very rigorous and fast-paced 4-day schedule as follows:

Day 1  (Thursday)
03:00 PM – 05:30 PM Classroom
06:00 PM – 06:45 PM Dinner
07:00 PM – 10:00 PM Classroom

Day 2  (Friday)
07:00 AM – 07:45 AM Breakfast
08:30 AM – 11:30 AM Practical Session (on and through the ice)
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
01:00 PM – 04:00 PM Practical Session
05:30 PM – 06:30 PM Dinner
07:00 PM – 10:00 PM Practical Session: Night Ops

Day 3  (Saturday)
07:00 AM – 07:45 AM Breakfast
08:30 AM – 11:30 AM Practical Session: Practice Teaching
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
01:00 PM – 04:00 PM Practical Session: Practice Teaching
05:30 PM – 06:30 PM Dinner
07:00 PM – 10:00 PM Classroom: Practice Teaching

Day 4  (Sunday)
07:00 AM – 07:45 AM Breakfast
08:00 AM – 11:00 AM Practical Session: Emergency Operations Drill
12:15 PM – 01:15 PM Lunch
01:30 PM – 03:00 PM Classroom (Administration & Graduation)

Travel/Hotel/Meals:

Instructor Candidates may fly into Portland Airport (PWM) in Maine and transportation will be provided from the airport to the hotel.

Instructor Candidates and Faculty are lodged at the Courtyard by Marriott in South Portland, Maine and are provided individual rooms for rest and comfort.  Lodging and meals meals (Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch) are provided and included with the Academy tuition.

Tuition:

Tuition for each Instructor candidate must be paid at the time of registration. Agency purchase orders are accepted.

Tuition includes:

  • 3 nights lodging; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
  • 9 meals including:
    • 1 meal on Thursday (dinner)
    • 3 meals on Friday (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
    • 3 meals on Saturday (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
    • 2 meals on Sunday (breakfast and lunch)
  • Access to the Lifesaving Resources Instructor Portal upon successful completion of the Academy
  • Other course and graduation materials

Upon receipt of registration and payment, a confirmation packet will be sent to the instructor candidate that contains directions and additional information, including local motel information for participants requiring lodging prior to or after the conclusion of the training Academy.

Agreement:

Instructor Candidates will be required to sign an Instructor Agreement and their department/agency will be required to complete an Authorized Provider Agreement. As an authorized provider of Lifesaving Resources’ Water Rescue Courses, the Instructor candidate and the department’s chief or training officer must agree to the following:

  • The curriculum must be conducted as defined in the Lifesaving Resources’ curriculum materials;
  • Instructors are required to use the most current version of the instructional Powerpoint/Keynote and Instructor’s SOP Manual (available within the Instructor Portal).  Current versions, along with Administrative forms and materials are available to authorized Instructors, free of charge, through the Instructor Portal;
  • All safety, rescue, educational, and operational procedures and protocols must be adhered to during the conduct of all Lifesaving Resources’ Ice Rescue Awareness, Operations, and Technician level courses;
  • Ice Rescue Instructors must order Ice Rescue Course Guidebooks at least two (2) weeks prior to the course starting date;
  • An Ice Rescue Course Guidebook is required to be issued to each student participating in an Ice Rescue Awareness, Operations, and/or Technician level course;
  • Instructors are required to submit a Record of Course Completion to Lifesaving Resources within two (2) weeks from the course completion date; and
  • Instructor must award their course graduates with a Lifesaving Resources Course Completion Certificate (available within the Lifesaving Resources’ Instructor Portal at www.lifesaving.com).

Any concerns regarding these conditions should be addressed with Lifesaving Resources prior to enrollment.

Instructor:

dworkin-smallGerald M. Dworkin

Gerald M. Dworkin (Gerry) is a professional Aquatics Safety & Water Rescue Consultant for Lifesaving Resources, LLC and is the author of publications including “Lifeguard Competition Guidebook” and “Ice Rescue Course Guidebook” (published by Lifesaving Resources).

Gerry has an extensive background in Aquatics Safety, Water Rescue, Ice Rescue, EMS, and Public Safety and Rescue. Along with his textbooks, he has written and published over 40 articles, and has consulted in over 350 drowning and aquatic injury litigation cases as a Forensics Expert.

Gerry has appeared as an expert on such national media broadcasts as CNN; MSNBC; CBS’ Early Show; ABC’s Good Morning America; NBC’s Today Show; and The Weather Channel. He is frequently contacted for interviews by publications throughout the U.S. on matters pertaining to submersion incidents; Lifeguard operations and management; submerged vehicle incidents; aquatics safety; water rescue; and ice rescue.

A Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for over 40 years, Gerry was a career Firefighter/EMT with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in Virginia. He is currently a Firefighter/EMT with the Kennebunkport Fire Department in Maine.

Course Cancellation and Refunds:

Please visit our cancellations and refunds page for our complete policy.

Course Host and Sponsorship Opportunities:

Any agency, organization, company, or association may host or sponsor any of our training programs. For details, contact Lifesaving Resources at 207/967-8614 or e-mail [email protected].