POLSON — With a sheet of ice once again blanketing Polson Bay, the Polson Fire Department’s emergency ice rescue team is ready to spring into action at any moment.

The team has been called into the line of duty four times so far this winter, including the recent rescue of a “severely hypothermic” dog, according to captain Chris McGuinness.

As one would expect, lots of preparation and strategy is necessary to conduct rescue operations in such dangerous and unpredictable conditions. Tethered together by a rope and spaced at least 50 feet apart, members of the rescue unit fan out as they set off toward rescue victims.

“One of the reasons for fanning out is to spread the weight out,” explained fire chief John Fairchild. Besides distributing weight, spreading out also puts rescuers in a position to help one another, should they fall through the ice during the rescue.

“You never know where those soft pockets are going to be out there,” warns Fairchild, noting that rescue operations on Flathead Lake are complicated by a number of factors, including running water beneath the ice and an abundance of underwater springs that can create weak spots.

Ironically, McGuinness notes that overheating is another major danger that rescuers face, with their specialized suits conserving warmth so effectively.

Victims, obviously, face the opposite problem.

“Even if you think you’re a good swimmer… you become incapacitated so quickly,” said McGuinness, explaining that immersion in the freezing water can strip people of the ability to swim or even hold onto a rope within minutes.

McGuinness also says that many well-meaning bystanders trying to help another person or a family pet can put themselves at great risk.

“Layperson rescuers outnumber actual victims,” said McGuinness. “As hard as it might be, it’s important to call 911 and let the rescuers do the work. Otherwise there’s a high probability that you’ll become a victim as well.”

McGuinness adds that over the years there have been many instances of “people putting themselves in great danger trying to rescue pets, and pets do quite well [on their own].”

For those thinking of venturing out onto the ice, Fairchild says that a thickness of at least three inches is necessary to ensure safety. However, he warns that conditions can change in just a short period of time.

“Just keep in mind that you’ve got moving water under that,” he said. “Any time you have that, you have the potential for it to break up.”

*Watch for a follow-up story in next week’s Leader, as editor Bryce Gray plans to perform a training exercise with the ice rescue team.