• Drill a hole into the dowels (in the end opposite the nail) and tie a length of strong cord through the hole so a pick is on each end “jump-rope” fashion. You may also drill a hole in the ends alongside the nails so the nail on the other pick can nest in the hole, keeping both points covered. Keep the picks in your pocket for quick access if you or a companion does break through. IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION
It’s possible to take every precaution and still find yourself in an emergency situation. What should you do if you or someone you are with ends up in the water? A companion falls through the ice: 1) Keep calm. 2) Don’t run up to the hole. You are of no help if you end up in the water, too. 3) Throw or extend to the person a rope, jumper cables, flotation device etc. to pull them out. 4) Call 911. Get medical assistance for the victim. People subjected to cold water can seem fine after being rescued but can suffer a potentially fatal condition called “after drop.” This happens when cold blood that is pooled in the body’s extremities starts to circulate again as the victim starts to re-warm. Keep dry clothes in the car -a spare sweatshirt and some old jeans in your vehicle along with some dry wool socks. The faster you can get your body dry, the less chance you have of suffering from hypothermia. Getting dry is the primary goal after being submerged in near-freezing lake water. WHAT IF YOU FALL IN?
1) Try not to panic. Instead, remain calm and turn toward the direction that you came from. That’s generally where the strongest ice will be. 2) Place your elbows on the unbroken surface of the ice or use ice picks. Work forward on the ice by kicking your feet. If the ice breaks, maintain your position and slide forward again. 3) Once you are lying on the ice, don’t stand. Instead, roll away from the hole. That spreads out your weight and allows you to access more solid ice. A SPECIAL NOTE FOR SNOWMOBILERS
Speed and night-time visibility are major factors in snowmobile accidents. Speed is a contributing factor in nearly all fatal snowmobiling accidents. Drive at a speed that will give you enough time to react should you need to change speed or direction quickly. Many fatal snowmobile throughthe-ice accidents occur because the machine was traveling too fast for the operator to stop when the headlamp illuminated a hole in the ice. Most snowmobiling accidents, including nine out of ten fatalities, occur after dark. Overriding your headlights is easy to do when snowmobiling at night. Consider wearing a life vest under your winter gear (with the added benefit of extra warmth), or a flotation snowmobile suit. Many people drown because the body’s response to entering frigid water,
the “gasp reflex”, fills the lungs with water as they go under. Having or wearing something that keeps your head above water can save your life. A snowmobile will sink like a stone in water, guaranteed, unlike a car or truck that will float for a bit. Never ride alone at night, and remember to put reflective strips on your clothing and helmet. Alcohol and snowmobiling Alcohol is involved in most snowmobiling fatalities. Any amount of alcohol affects judgment, impairs your perception, slows your reaction time and limits your ability to control your snowmobile. Alcohol increases your susceptibility to cold and hypothermia. This will decrease your chances of survival if you have to wait long for help to arrive after an accident. Enjoying an alcoholic beverage is acceptable during many leisure activities. Snowmobiling is not one of them. Make it a part of your day AFTER your ride. EDUCATION
Smalley credits education and getting the word out about ice safety for a diminishing number of casualties over recent years due to falling through the ice. He is gratified to report that last year only one Minnesotan lost his life on the ice, a result of a snowmobile breaking through. But even one is one too many, and he knows that the numbers will climb if our residents don’t take the necessary precautions. “Of all the tools you bring to the ice perhaps the most important is common sense” he concluded. Take care out there! Sources: Tim Smalley - Boat and Water Safety Specialist for the Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources, Minnesota DNR website http://www.dnr.state.mn.us
S H E R I D A V I C H is a free-lance writer living in Pequot Lakes.
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