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Playing With Ice - Safely
During the winter season, families from Maine to Siberia will take to frozen lakes and ponds to ice fish, play hockey, or snowmobile. Accidents will happen, but they can be avoided by following these guidelines from ice safety experts.
Ice Safety Do's & Don't's
DO remember that ice is really NEVER 100% safe. No matter its measured thickness, walking or riding on ice always comes with some risk.
DON'T walk out on the ice until there are at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice below. Thinner ice will support one person, but since ice thickness can vary considerably, especially at the beginning and end of the season, 4 inches will provide a margin of safety. Some factors that can change ice thickness include flocks of waterfowl and schools of fish. By congregating in a small area, fish can cause warmer water from the bottom to flow towards the surface, weakening or, in some cases, opening large holes in the ice.
DO go out with a buddy and keep a good distance apart as you walk. If one of you falls in, the other can call for help with a cell phone. The companion can also attempt a rescue if one of you are carrying rope or other survival gear.
DON'T measure ice thickness in only one spot. Take multiple readings in completely different areas to get a good feel for the actual ice depth.
DON'T park snowmobiles right next to each other on the ice. This will place undue stress on one small portion of the ice, increasing the chance of ice fracture. Spread them out.
DO carry a long length of rope when riding on ice. This may be a victim's only chance of being pulled to safety.
"Thick and blue, tried and true. Thin or crispy, way too risky." That's the old saying, and it's a good one. Take a hard look at the ice before you leap. Clear blue ice is the strongest, and it still takes three inches to safely hold a single person, and five to six inches to safely hold a group of people or a snowmobile. Milky, honeycombed ice that has air bubbles or snow crystals trapped in it is much weaker and less trustworthy.
Snow coverings complicate things with ice. Not only does it keep you from visually checking the ice for inconsistencies, but it also insulates and inhibits ice formation. Be extra careful before venturing out onto a snow-covered pond or lake.
The only way to tell how thick ice is, of course, is to cut a hole in it with a chisel or auger. Start near shore and make several test cuts as you go out. Remember that ice thickness isn't consistent and water currents (particularly around narrow spots, bridges, inlets and outlets) are always suspect. Never trust the ice on a river or stream -- it can be several feet thick in one place, and unsafe only a short distance away.
On really cold days, you are likely to hear the ice rumbling and pinging, almost sounding as if it is cracking. Sometimes you'll even see long cracks developing. Don't panic. As long as you KNOW the ice depth is within safe limits, it's really nothing to worry about. Those rumblings and crackings are the sound of pressure being relieved as more ice forms beneath the surface. The ice is actually getting thicker.
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