HAYDEN — It happens every year.

Someone heads out for some ice fishing.

A dog chases a duck onto the ice.

A person walks on thin ice.

Or someone even drives a truck onto the ice.

There's a crack and suddenly, they drop into freezing water.

“What will happen is, somebody will fall through, and they'll get so exhausted, they can't even reach up anymore,” said Chris Larson, deputy fire marshal with Northern Lakes Fire District. “Then their friend will try to rescue him. Now we have two in the water. That occurs over and over again. It happens with people trying to save their pets.”

When it does, rescuers will be ready.

About 25 personnel with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Northern Lakes, Hauser Lake and Coeur d’Alene firefighters, spent the morning and afternoon on Wednesday practicing ice rescues at Avondale Lake.

Each took turns being the victim wearing cold-water suits — jumping into the 33-degree water — and waiting to be pulled to safety.

Rescuers used a Rescue Alive pontoon and hustled about 100 feet out to the hole cut in the six-inch ice. There, they pulled the victim out and returned to shore.

They train every year so when it happens, they’re ready, whether be at Avondale, Fernan, Twin or Hayden lakes.

When a person goes through the ice, depending on the water temperature, they may have only minutes before they succumb to conditions and drown.

Seconds matter and can be the difference between life and death.

“Quick response is a must,” Larson said.

First responders make the rescue look easy, but it’s not. The victim may be panicking — as hypothermia sets in mental clarity is diminished — making it more difficult to free them. Rescuers might need to approach from behind and use a special strap to loop over the victim and lift them from the water.

“It's a balancing act of being able to straddle the patient and get good footing on there,” Larson said.

The ice can be deceptive. While a cold snap may freeze it over, when it thaws and freezes several times, it creates fractures that weaken the ice. It should be clear ice, not milky.

“The spring conditions that we started getting with this thaw, that tends to be when we get the bulk of our rescues because the ice has given away and people think the ice is thick enough and then they get themselves into trouble,” he said. “Ice conditions are changing rapidly right now.”

Andy Boyle, retired from KCSO, said there are other conditions to consider before walking on the ice.

“The problem you have to be careful of is, there are springs out there,” he said. “This is good, solid ice, but is there a spring someplace? Or that tree right there? Around those branches, they’re giving off heat, which gives thinner ice. So those are all the things you have to look at.”

There are a few more months ahead for folks to venture out on ice. Larson said they have had rescues into April.

He had a few recommendations for those who plan to go out on North Idaho's icy lakes:

•Don’t go alone.

•Let someone know your plans

•Wear a life jacket. Inflatable ones are light and comfortable.

•Have a rope

•Carry an ice pick

Larson knows ice fisherman aren’t keen on wearing a life jacket, and carrying extra gear isn’t ideal, but it could save a lie.

For those who witness someone go through the ice, call 911, keep an eye on the victim and note some landmarks to help rescuers get to the right spot.

“It’s a very crucial time,” Larson said.