MARSARS®
Ice Rescue
Sled Kits

In 2004 the U.S. Coast Guard modernized their ice rescue program. With a primary goal of rescuer’s safety, the MARSARS® Ice Rescue Safety Shuttle Sled (IRSS) was selected as the Coast Guard’s ice rescue rescue device of choice. This sled is now distributed World-wide. We believe the ease of extracting the patient and rescuer safety has been the primary reason for its popularity. The MARSARS® Ice Rescue Sled kit includes: IRSS Sled, buoyant Cold Water Rescue Sling and your choice of 300’, 550’ or 850’ Ice Rescue Reel.

Genesis of Safer Distance Ice Rescue

Prior to late 80’s, if grabbed and climbed on, all lifeguards were trained to escape by submerging their body deeper. Doing so, the panicked victim, desperate for support would let them go. Since then, all lifeguards stop at a safe distance and extend a rescue flotation device (RFD). The use of RFDs has become the nucleus of swimmer’s safety in open water rescue. However, if an ice rescue technician is grabbed and climbed on, the ice rescue suit’s buoyancy prevents escape, leaving our techs no recourse but to make aggressive moves to escape.

A seed change for ice rescuer’s safety

In this high-risk low incident environment, the MARSARS® Ice Rescue Sled (IRSS Sled) is the first ice rescue device designed to gently extract the victim from a safer distance. As first responders, we must be mindful of the rescue dictum: Self-Rescue, Reach, Throw, Row, Go. The self-rescue, reaching phase of this principal has been incorporated into the design of this unique mitigating device for high-risk situations.