Rescue Training - on a frozen lake

Ponds, lakes and other bodies of water have frozen over and people may be eager for the chance to go skating or ice fishing, or play hockey and other sports.

While the urge to go out into the ice may be compelling, experts recommend that before venturing out people should call their parks, police or fire departments to inquire about the latest ice conditions.

In Massachusetts, there have been two close calls already reported this winter. A woman with her two daughters fell into Lake Ellis while ice fishing last Christmas Eve in Athol. Luckily for them a retired firefighter spotted them as they fell and pulled them out. At Pickerel Pond in Natick, two teenagers plunged through the ice but were safely rescued.

It may seem that the ice is pretty thick. But people should be aware that no matter how good the ice looks, conditions can change in a matter of days. Thickness can be affected by many things — from wind direction to how birds use it. Around aeration holes, which park officials use to protect fish in a lake, the ice is usually thinner.

This winter has seen wide variations in temperature, deep snow and fierce winds, and these can change ice characteristics on water bodies.  Ice thickness will not be uniform all over the body. Outdoor enthusiasts must make it a point to test the ice before venturing out.

All ice is potentially dangerous, says the Cold Region Research Laboratory in Hanover, New Hampshire. The laboratory also says there should be at least 6 inches of hard ice to support individual foot travel and close to 10 inches of hard ice before machine (snow machine or all-terrain vehicle) travel.

Because of varying weather conditions, it is possible for ice to be thick but soft or weak. These can form when relatively warm winter days cause partial melting and colder nights cause the slush to re-freeze.

Ice can be dangerously thin around areas with flowing water or an active current, such as inlets (e.g. a brook entering a pond) or outlets. Small bodies of water tend to have thicker ice when frozen. Larger bodies, such as rivers and lakes, are more exposed to wind, currents and wave action which weakens the ice.

Safety Tips:

* Avoid ice along a shoreline if it is cracked or slushy.

* Never go out on the ice during thaws.

* Avoid forming into large groups when you’re on the ice.

* It is safer not to drive large vehicles on the ice.

* Never fish on ice alone. It is advisable to carry a cell phone and to have a flotation jacket.

* Don’t panic if you fall through the ice. Try to swim back to where you fell in, to the spot where you are certain the ice was solid. Lay both arms on the intact ice and kick very hard, to help lift you body up and onto the unbroken ice. Once out, stay prone and roll away from the hole to more solid ice.

* If someone else falls through, throw something they can hold on to. If that fails, do not come closer but go for help instead.