5 minute read
Winter Safety Tips
Many people enjoy activities on frozen bodies of water. No matter what activities you enjoy, you need to be aware of potentially lifesaving tips and tools.
Things to consider before you go out on frozen bodies of water.
All ice conditions vary from lake to lake and pond to pond
Ice thickness as well as thinness change daily.
You can’t always tell the strength of ice simply by its look, its thickness, the temperature or whether or not it is covered with snow. None of these are indicators of the frozen body of water being safe.
Clear ice that has a bluish tint is the strongest.
Ice formed by melted and refrozen snow appears milky, and is very soft and weak.
Ice covered with snow always should be known as unsafe. The snow acts like an insulating blanket and slows the freezing process. Ice under the snow is thinner and weaker. Snow can also warm up and melt existing ice due to the snow being warmer than the frozen waters.
If any slush is present on the ice, stay off! Slush ice is less than half as strong as clear ice which indicates that the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom.
Be extremely cautious when air temperatures have fluctuated. A few warmer days may take several days to weaken the ice; however, when temperatures vary it causes the ice to thaw during the day and refreeze at night this makes the ice weak and spongy ice like this is very unsafe and should not be approached.
Despite your age make sure to always tell a responsible adult where you are going and what time to expect you back. Relaying your plan can help save your life if something does happen to you on the ice. It is not recommend taking a car or truck out onto the ice at any time. If you are walking out onto a frozen body of water with a group of people avoid walking on ice in a single file line, spread out and avoid standing together in one area.
Never venture out alone without telling a responsible adult on shore your plans, wearing a life jacket and high visible colored clothing is highly suggested. Bring a cell phone with you for emergency use.
Beware of large cracks or depressions in the ice and avoid those areas. Always keep in mind that ice does not form with uniform thickness on any body of water. Underwater springs and currents can wear thin spots on the ice.
In the event of EMERGENCY:
If you happen to fall through the ice:
Try to remain calm although you may be frightened.
Do not remove your winter clothing while in the water. You may think that the heavy clothes would drag you down, but instead they can trap air to provide warmth and flotation. This is considerably true with a snowsuit.
Turn in the water toward the direction you came from. That is most likely the strongest ice.
If you have ice picks dig them into the ice and while kicking your feet, pull yourself onto the surface by sliding forward on the ice. Roll yourself away from the area where weak ice may be. Rolling on the ice will distribute your body weight and help to avoid breaking through again.
If you do fall into the water and are able to get out seek a sheltered area with heat, dry clothing and warm air. Be sure to drink non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated drinks.
Be sure to immediately call 911 and seek medical attention if you feel disoriented, have uncontrollable shivering, or have any other ill effects that may be symptoms of hypothermia (the lifethreatening drop in the body’s core temperature).
There are some simple tools to add to the safety checklist.
1. Ice cleats or creepers.
The ice cleats and creepers attach to boots and have adjustable straps. Some have rubber overshoes with metal teeth or spikes that provide great traction on slippery ice and help to prevent falls. Which can lead to serious injury.
2. A spud or ice chisel.
An ice spud is a longhandled blade that has a point on one side. You can use an ice chisel to punch a hole through the ice before you even step on it to check the thickness.
3. Ice safety picks.
Be sure to bring two ice picks and wear them around your neck so that they are within quick reach and are easily accessible.
The ice picks can be stuck into the ice and then used to pull yourself back out if you happen to fall through.
4. Floating rescue rope.
Always be sure you have a floating rescue rope with you and keep the rope in an easily accessible location.
If someone falls through, you may be able to assist by throwing the rope from a safe distance. If you happen to fall through, throw one end of the floating rope to any person who is nearby to rescue you.
What if Someone Else Falls In?
First, call 911 for help if you or someone nearby has a phone.
Although it may be hard to, resist the urge to run up to the edge of the hole where the victim fell in. This would most likely result in two victims in the water. Preach, Reach, Throw, Go
Preach - Yell loudly to the victim to reassure them that help is on the way.
Reach - If you can safely reach the victim from shore, extend an object such as a rope, tree branch, jumper cables, or ladder to them. If the person starts to pull you in, release your grip on the object and start over. Throw - From shore, toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim. Have them tie the rope around themselves before they are too weakened by the cold to grasp it.
Go - If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, do not go out onto the ice.
Call 911 for help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
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