Which statement is true about victims with arms frozen to the ice shelf?

• A. It is possible
• B. It is not possible
• C. It is a myth
• D. It is always fatal

Answer: (A)

The situation tests understanding that a person can be freed even when a limb is frozen to the ice, with proper technique. Being stuck to the ice isn’t automatically hopeless or fatal—you can safely separate the arm from the ice if you use careful, controlled methods.

The key idea is to remove the ice around the limb rather than yanking on the arm. Use appropriate tools (saws, chisels, or other ice-rescue devices) to create a margin around the arm and then peel or lift the ice block away from the skin. This minimizes further injury and preserves circulation. Move slowly, protect the skin, and work to free the limb while the person remains as still as possible to reduce additional trauma.

Once freed, the focus shifts to rapid rewarming and treating frostbite or hypothermia as needed.

So, it is indeed possible to rescue someone whose arms are frozen to the ice shelf; it’s not a myth, and it isn’t automatically fatal.