Search and Rescue on Frozen Rivers

Rescuing people and objects on frozen rivers is a complex activity that involves intervention in unpredictable and often extreme conditions. In this regard, every country with river waterways must to some extent think about ice during the winter months, about the impact of ice on river navigation, and about possible accidents that occur during that period. Frozen rivers, as a natural phenomenon, are often places where accidents occur due to ice breakage, collapse of objects, or traps for people who find themselves in inadequate conditions. In such situations, timely reaction and well-organized rescue teams are required. The topic is important for the entire social community due to the increasing frequency of water accidents during the winter period and the inclusion of all segments of society, especially the military and police, in search and rescue operations, which would be the primary response force during water accidents or as support for civilian structures that are threatened by the appearance of ice on the water. Civil-military cooperation in these cases involves pooling resources, knowledge and capabilities in order to increase the efficiency of rescue operations. The aim of this paper is to analyze the challenges and techniques of rescue on frozen rivers and highlight the importance of civil-military cooperation in these activities. It will be investigated how coordination between different structures (military, civilian and volunteer) can contribute to greater population safety, reduction of losses and more efficient use of all resources.