Thanks to an extended Christmas break — a present given to some area school districts — there’s been ample opportunity to enjoy various outdoor activities, including sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, snowboarding and ice skating.
While they all involve some measure of risk to go along with the reward of enjoying all that winter has to offer, skating on our ponds, lakes and rivers presents the most potential for accidents.
While backyard rinks and shallow ponds are likely safe enough for skating, moving water under the ice could still make larger bodies of water uneven, as temperatures have not been as cold as the wind chills have made it seem in recent days.
A recent Boston Herald report detailing the rescue steps one local fire department takes brought home the potential dangers that can occur when you tread on thin ice.
Scituate firefighters practiced for such an eventuality Monday by diving into freezing waters to train for seasonal emergencies.
The department typically experiences ice rescue incidents every winter, with usually two or three dog rescues, Scituate Fire Lt. Eric Norlin told the Herald. The local firefighters practice once a year to stay ready.
The training starts with a would-be victim in the water, Norlin said.
“The victim would be in the ice,” said Norlin. “The fire department would show up and put on our yellow ice rescue suits and go out on a tether and secure the victim into a rescue noodle or a harness. And then basically hop in the hole in back of them and lift them out of the hole, out of the ice, and then pull them to shore.”
This year’s training went “flawlessly,” Norlin said, noting the department got 50 firefighters through training.
Of course, not every ice-rescue mission produces a happy ending.
That’s why it’s imperative to avoid getting in that dire situation in the first place.
You can start by dressing properly for cold weather in wool, which insulates better from the effects of hypothermia when dry or wet than man-made materials. Also, keep your head covered because 50% of body heat is lost through the head.
It’s also instructive to understand how hypothermia — the extreme lowering of body temperature — occurs, as well as its effects.
Any water cooler than normal body temperature (98.6˚ F) is considered cold water, which drains away body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air. Cold water need not be icy, it just has to be colder than you are to cause hypothermia.
The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the onset of hypothermia.
Core body temperature below 95˚F causes shivering, confusion, and loss of muscle strength. If not treated and reversed, hypothermia leads to unconsciousness and death.
Experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from hypothermia, not from water-filled lungs.
To avoid such a calamity, Mass.gov offers these general ice-safety guidelines:
• Newly formed ice is stronger than old ice: Four inches of clear, new ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
• Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly: Continue to check ice conditions frequently.
• Ice formed over flowing water and currents makes it unpredictable: Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
• Never go alone: Always venture onto the ice with a friend or family member who might be able to help in an emergency or go for help.
• Share your plan: Tell someone on shore where you are going and when you expect to return.
For detailed information on self-rescue techniques, refer to the Mass.gov Ice Strength and Safety page.
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has issued even more specific ice-thickness rules for lakes and ponds:
• 2 inches or less: stay off;
• 4 inches: Ice fishing and other activities on foot are permitted;
• 5 inches: Snowmobiling or riding ATVs are permitted;
• 8-12 inches: Driving a car or small pickup is permitted;
• 12-15 inches: Driving a medium truck is permitted.
And police urge that you call for help before attempting an ice rescue on your own to prevent becoming a victim yourself.
Mass.gov offers this advice if you fall through the ice:
• Don’t panic: Call for help if there are people nearby.
• Don’t remove winter clothing: Air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float.
• Retrace your steps: Ice you previously walked on should be the safest.
• Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs: If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking.
• Lie flat and roll away: Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
• Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings.
We understand the popularity of outdoor recreational activities at this time of year, but don’t let that lure of skating, fishing or snowmobiling on our lakes and ponds cloud your ability to discern whether you’re putting yourself in harm’s way.
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