Safety On The Ice

"Anyone considering venturing out for a day of ice fishing, skating or sailing should remember that regardless of how cold it is or how thick you think the ice may be, it is the Coast Guard's experience that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SAFE ICE," said Lt. Cmdr. Roger Dubuc, assistant chief of Search and Rescue for the Ninth Coast Guard District.

For many people living in the northern part of the country, working or playing on the frozen surface of a river or lake is a normal part of winter. However, knowing how to do so safely can be a matter of life or death.

If you are planning to venture out onto the ice, keep these simple guidelines in mind to help ensure your safety.

• Write down where you are going, how long you will be gone, who you are with, where you are leaving from, where your vehicle is parked, what it looks like, and its license number, along with a description of your snowmobile or ice shanty.
• Wear a life jacket and brightly colored clothing.
• Take a compass.
• Know the area well before going.
• Know the strength of the ice before leaving and test in front of you as you walk.
• Only walk across areas of at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice. Remember, though, that even if ice is a foot thick in one area on a lake, it can be one inch thick just a few yards away.
• Snowmobiles need at least 5 inches of ice, and cars and light trucks need at least 8-12 inches of good clear ice.
• Do not cross cracks with open water and room for ice to move downwind.
• Stay completely away from shipping channels, water intakes, and discharge pipes.
• Do not go alone.
• Carry items such as awls or an ice staff to help pull yourself out of the water should you break through.
• Carry devices to signal for help, such as auto flares, a marine radio, a cellular phone, a whistle, or any light source.
• Do not drive across ice at night or when it is snowing. Reduced visibility increases your chances for driving into an open or weak ice area.
• Be prepared to bail out in a hurry, if you find it necessary to use a car. Unbuckle your seatbelt and have a plan of action if you do breakthrough. Some safety experts recommend driving with the window rolled down and the doors ajar for an easy escape.
• Move your car frequently. Parking in one place for a long period weakens ice.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages. They increase your chances for hypothermia and increase the likelihood that you will make a stupid mistake that will cost you or a companion their life.

Remember, only you are responsible for your own safety. Take heed of these guidelines and practice them if you plan do any activities on the ice this winter.