By Safety First

Thin Ice

Feb 24, 2017 | 10:40 AM

Unusually warm temperatures have caused many bodies of water that normally would be frozen, to be displaying thin ice or even in some cases visible open water. This is normally not seen February throughout much of Saskatchewan. That might be a good sign that spring is arriving early, but it does create hazards for people who might venture out onto the ice.

Any ice surface that displays grey looking ice, patches where open water is visible, or surfaces where water is on top of the ice surface should definitely be avoided. Smaller ice surfaces such as a small dugout, pond, drainage ditch, storm channel for run off, need to be avoided. If the ice is 7cm or 3 inches and less, stay off as it is too thin to support your weight. Venturing out onto the ice and not falling through is not the safe way to check ice conditions. However, if you do venture out for activity and hear a cracking sound, then turn around and go back the way you came. The ice you were on is likely going to remain strong enough to get you off safely.

But what if you fall through? It only takes minutes before your muscles no longer work effectively to get you out of the water. That assumes you are able to find a solid surface to get too and safely get out. Almost no one who ventured out onto the ice was likely to be wearing a life jacket, carrying ice picks, dressed in a survival suit. The bulking winter ski pants and coat have likely become so soaked with water it’s pulling you under.

Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht the leading authority on cold water survival aka “professor popsicle” has some get resources and fantastic videos available. Visit www.coldwaterbootcamp.com for more details.

How can you safely try to get someone out of the water? Encourage them to do what they can to get to and onto a solid surface. Use anything to extend your reach such as a rope, tree branch, booster cables or hockey stick to reach out to the person in the water and pull them towards shore. Stay low to the ground and do what you can as safely as you can. Once you and the person who fell into the water are on shore start to care for the them. Remove all water soaked clothing and get them warm and dry. Multiple insulating layers are needed to keep the heat in. Any obvious injuries should also be treated if you can and know first aid. It’s important if you have not already called for help because the urgency of the rescue prevented that from happening, do so now. Getting prompt paramedic help will treat potential hypothermia (low body temperature) and any other injuries.

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While immersion incidents are not frequent, they are unfortunately and can often end in tragedy with loss of life.

Staying away from ice surfaces such as dugouts, ponds, drainage ditches and the like is good safety sense. Share this information with younger adults or children and ensure everyone knows thin ice is not safe ice.