ICE Rescue Operations and Technician Practice Test

Entering the water to physically move the victim toward safety is the Go method. In water rescue, you first try options that keep you dry—reaching out from shore or shoreline equipment, or throwing a flotation aid to the person. If those won’t get the victim to safety quickly enough or aren’t possible due to distance or obstacles, you switch to entering the water to directly assist the person. This approach requires training, proper gear, and careful risk assessment because it puts the rescuer in a higher-risk situation. The other methods don’t require entering the water: reaching involves extending from land, throwing is sending a flotation device to the victim, and rowing uses a boat to approach without entering the water yourself.