With over 1100 lakes in Otter Tail County,
we are especially aware of the necessity
of caution when it comes to recreational
activities on a lake. Below are some ice
safety tips from the  Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources.
There is no such thing as 100 percent
safe ice.
Recommended minimum ice thickness
4" of new clear ice is the minimum thickness for travel on foot
5" is minimum for snowmobiles and ATVs
8"- 12" for cars or small trucks
(Remember that these thicknesses are merely
guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many
factors other than thickness can cause
ice to be unsafe.)
Check for known thin ice areas with a
local resort or bait shop.
Test the thickness yourself using an ice
chisel, ice auger or even a cordless 1/4
inch drill with a long bit.
Refrain from driving on ice whenever possible.
If you must drive a vehicle, be prepared
to leave it in a hurry--keep windows
down, unbuckle your seat belt and have
a simple emergency plan of action you
have discussed with your passengers.
Stay away from alcoholic beverages.
Even "just a couple of beers" are
enough to cause a careless error in judgment
that could cost you your life. And contrary
to common belief, alcohol actually makes
you colder rather than warming you up.
Don't "overdrive" your
snowmobile's headlight.
At even 30 miles per hour, it can take
a much longer distance to stop on ice than
your headlight shines. Many fatal snowmobile
through-the-ice accidents occur because
the machine was travelling too fast for
the operator to stop when the headlamp
illuminated the hole in the ice.
Wear a life vest under your winter gear.
Or wear one of the new flotation snowmobile
suits. And it's a good idea to carry
a pair of ice picks that may be home
made or purchased from most well stocked
sporting goods stores that cater to winter
anglers. It's amazing how difficult it
can be to pull yourself back onto the
surface of unbroken but wet and slippery
ice while wearing a snowmobile suit weighted
down with 60 lbs of water. The ice picks
really help pulling yourself back onto
solid ice. CAUTION: Do NOT wear a flotation
device when travelling across the ice
in an enclosed vehicle!
What if a companion falls through thin
ice?
Keep calm and think out a solution.
Don't run up to the hole. You'll probably
break through and then there will be two
victims.
Use some item on shore to throw or extend
to the victim to pull them out of the water
such as jumper cables or skis, or push
a boat ahead of you.
If you can't rescue the victim immediately,
call 911. It's amazing how many people
carry cellphones.
Get medical assistance for the victim.
People who are subjected to cold water
immersion but seem fine after being rescued
can suffer a potentially fatal condition
called "after drop" that may
occur when cold blood that is pooled in
the body's extremities starts to circulate
again as the victim starts to re-warm.
What if YOU fall in?
Try not to panic. Instead, remain calm
and turn toward the direction you came
from. Place your hands and arms on the
unbroken surface of the ice (here's where
the ice picks come in handy.) Work forward
on the ice by kicking your feet. If the
ice breaks, maintain your position and
slide forward again. Once you are lying
on the ice, don't stand. Instead, roll
away from the hole. That spreads out
your weight until you are on solid ice.
This sounds much easier than it really
is to do.
The best advice is don't put yourself
into needless danger by venturing out too
soon or too late in the season. No angler,
no matter how much of a fishing enthusiast,
would want to die for a crappie.
For more information on ice safety contact
the MN DNR and ask for our free ice safety
publications, which include the brochures, "Danger,
Thin Ice" and "Hypothermia the
Cold Facts" and the wallet-sized reference
card and 11X14 posters titled, "Minimum
Recommended Ice Thicknesses." Metro
(651) 296-6157 or toll free outside the
metro area 1-888-646-6367 or email the
Information Center at info@dnr.state.mn.us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Make
a Set of Ice Rescue Claws"
(2006-12-9-04
News Release from Minnesota Department
of Natural Resources)
The winter's first ice is already skimming
Minnesota lakes and ponds. Unfortunately,
every year we hear of people drowning because
they broke through ice they thought was
safe.
"I know most of us think to ourselves,
'If I fell through, I'll just climb back
onto the solid ice and be just fine,'" said
Tim Smalley, water safety specialist for
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Unfortunately,
this can be much easier said than done.
First, when you fall through the ice, you're
taken by surprise. If you knew you were
going to break through, you wouldn't have
walked there in the first place."
The sudden shock of plunging into freezing
water adds to the confusion and panic,
Smalley said. "Cold water saps body
heat 25 times faster than air of the same
temperature. Just try holding your hand
in a cooler full of ice water for more
than a few seconds and you'll see what
I mean," he said.
Then comes the difficult task of climbing
out of the cold water onto the surface
of the wet and slippery ice. Unless people
have a plan of action for just such emergencies,
their chances of getting out safely can
be pretty slim.
"There's no reason that you can't
have a safe and enjoyable time on the ice
as long as you follow some basic safety
guidelines. For example, don't walk on
new clear ice less than four inches thick
and exercise a little common sense," Smalley
said. "Call ahead to a local bait
shop or resort. Ask them what the ice conditions
are on the particular lake you're going
to, and carry along a set of ice claws
to rescue yourself or a buddy."
People can purchase a set of commercially
made ice rescue picks or "claws" from
a bait shop or fishing tackle dealer. Or,
if they have a few simple tools and a little
skill in the workshop, they can make a
set for a couple of dollars for materials.
"This can be a fun project for young
budding woodworkers with a little adult
supervision," Smalley noted.
Here is how to make ice rescue picks:
 get two four-inch pieces of wooden doweling
the size of a broom handle or a little
larger; they should be made out of material
that floats in case a person drops the
claws
drive a stout nail into one end of each
dowel
use a file to sharpen the nail heads
to a point
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;
people 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.
The DNR offers this advice to people who
fall through the ice.
keep ice picks in pocket for quick emergency
access
try to remain calm
turn in the water towards the direction
they came from, because that is probably
the strongest ice
dig the points of the picks into the
ice and while vigorously kicking feet;
pull onto the surface by sliding forward
on the ice
roll away from the area of weak ice;
that will distribute weight to help avoid
breaking through again
seek shelter, heat, warm dry clothing
and warm, nonalcoholic and noncaffeinated
drinks
have someone should call 911 and seek
medical attention if the victim becomes
disoriented, has uncontrollable shivering,
or exhibits any other ill effects that
may be symptoms of hypothermia (the life
threatening drop in the body's core temperature).
For more information, contact the Minnesota
DNR for free ice safety and hypothermia
prevention brochures. In the Twin Cities,
call (651) 296-6157 or toll free 1-888-MINNDNR
(646-6367), or e-mail info@dnr.state.mn.us.
|
