How to know when ice is safe

Video: How Do I Know When the Ice is Safe?

Content

Steps
Hints
Warnings
Things You Will Need

Winter walks, including snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing (with or without a car), skiing, ice skating, and ice games can be dangerous if you cannot determine if the ice is strong enough to withstand load. There are various ways to assess the potential reliability of ice cover - you can observe the color of the ice and study its thickness, as well as pay attention to external factors such as temperature, local conditions and features. However, it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk during sporting events. If in doubt, do not go out on the ice; and even more so, do not do it out of season sooner or too late.

Steps

1 Please note that ice is never completely safe. Weather conditions and subtle or unknown factors can suddenly turn seemingly reliable ice into deadly ice.Take all possible precautions to prevent accidents and ensure that immediate rescue measures can be taken if something goes wrong.
2 Develop an emergency rescue plan. Warn acquaintances where you are going. In case something unexpected happens while you are exploring ice conditions or having fun, you should have an algorithm of actions that will allow you to get to a safe place where you can immediately get help.
- Newbie tip: Dress very warmly for the season. Do not neglect water rescue equipment, even a life jacket, especially if you are testing ice strength or going on a snowmobile trip. Keep an ice ax with you, which can help you get out if you get into a wormwood. Never go alone, take one or two friends with you. Let your friends know where you and your friends are and when you expect to return home. This is not a case where you can be lighthearted and act spontaneously.
- Have a spare set of warm, dry clothing with you in a waterproof duffel bag. This way, you can reduce the risk of hypothermia by changing your wet clothes right away. Other useful items in the rescue kit are a blanket, hand and foot warmers, thick socks, spare wool hats, candles and matches. Prepare all of these items for any winter sports like ice skating. For more details, see the Things You Will Need section.
3 Understand that the strength of ice is determined by a number of factors, not just one. Its reliability can be judged by evaluating the combination of the following indicators:
- Appearance of ice - its color, structure and features
- Ice thickness - for certain types of activities, the recommended thickness has been determined, which can be read below
- Temperature maximum for a certain time and during the day
- Snow cover
- The depth of the water under the ice
- The size of the reservoir
- The chemical composition of water - whether it is salty or fresh
- Weather changes in the area
- Length of ice cover
4 Select locations where ice is regularly tested for strength by appropriate services. Such services may exist at resorts, clubs, national parks, or as part of government agencies. They must measure at least daily. Ask the employees of these services about the results of the check, this will protect yourself. They usually use high-quality measuring instruments and have access to research, and they also know a lot about ice and are well prepared for emergency situations. You will save yourself from risky ice tests for strength and will feel more confident. However, this does not mean that precautions can be forgotten.
5 Chat with locals. If you are a newcomer, you should not show any arrogance. Go to a grocery, fishing store, or sports equipment store and strike up a conversation, stop by the police station or fire department and ask about dangerous and safe places in the area. Better they help you now than help you out of trouble later.
6 Examine the ice. Look closely for any cracks, fractures, suspicious spots or uneven surfaces and determine its color (s). You can only rely on your own vision... This quick look will help you decide whether to continue your research.
- If you have any of the following signs, you'd better give up any further attempts to get on the ice:
  - Water melting or near the ice edge
  - Springs under the ice in ponds and lakes with spring feeding.
  - The presence of a source or tributary at an ice-covered reservoir
  - Cracks, faults or openings
  - Ice that apparently melted and then froze again
  - Uneven surfaces that you may not have noticed before, such as raised ice ridges caused by currents or winds
- Remember this song: "Thick and blue, proven and reliable; thin and fragile - the path is too risky."
7 You need to understand the meaning of a particular color of ice. But while this is a very useful indicator, you shouldn't rely on color alone. For example, ice of any color exposed to flowing water from below will be more brittle than ice not. Usually, based on the color spectrum of ice, you can draw the following conclusions:
- Light gray to black, melt ice that sometimes forms even when the air temperature is below 32 ° F (0 ° C). Unsafe: Due to insufficient density, it cannot withstand the load - stay away.
- White to dull, opaque - water-soaked snow freezes on the surface of the ice, forming another thin layer of ice on top. Such ice is too porous, there may be air pockets inside it, so it is often fragile.
- From blue to clear - ice of high density, very strong, the safest, if, of course, it is thick enough. Don't risk it if it's less than 4 inches (10 cm) thick.
- Variegated and loose ice, also called "rotten" - not so much because of its color, but because of its structure. This is melted ice. It is treacherously deceptive - it is very possible that it melted in the middle or below, although it seems thick from above. It is most commonly found in spring and can have a brownish tint due to plant pigments, dirt, and other natural materials that rise to the surface during thaws. You will not take a step.
8 Check the thickness of the ice. If you have already finished the inspection and it seems to you that everything is in order, you need to verify this by examining the thickness of the ice.
- Conduct research in the presence of at least one friend (mutual assistance system). Put on a rescue suit or other lifesaving device and use the ropes so a friend can pull you out if necessary.
- Only go out on the ice if the ice edge is strong enough. If it is loose or cracked, it is not worth continuing for your own safety, because the coastal ice edge is the most fragile.
- To measure the thickness of the ice, make a small hole with a hatchet or use a hand drill.
- Examine the safe ice thickness indicators. There are recommended criteria that you need to keep in mind for any action you take on the ice. (Please note that compliance with these recommended, but by itself does not guarantee your safety.) Ice becomes "safe" at a thickness of approximately 4-6 inches (10-15 cm). Don't even think about going out on ice that is 3 inches (7.5 cm) thick or less. However, even at 9 to 10 inches (22.5 to 25 cm) thick, the ice can pose hidden threats, such as a rushing current that tirelessly erodes the ice from below. In this case, even thick ice can crack at any moment.
- Under normal conditions, the rules for safe ice thickness are as follows:
  - 3 "(7cm) (young ice) -" KEEP OUT
  - 4 inches (10 cm) - suitable for ice fishing, skiing and hiking (can handle approximately 200 lbs (80 kg))
  - 5 inches (12 cm) - Suitable for solo snowmobiles and snowmobiles (can handle approximately 800 lbs (320 kg))
  - 8 - 12 inches (20 - 30 cm) - Carries a single car or group of people (approximately 1500 - 2000 lbs (600-800kg))
  - 12 '' - 15 '' (30 - 38 cm) - Carries the weight of a light pickup truck or RV
- These norms are considered to be generally accepted.
9 Keep in mind that the thickness of the ice is not the same everywhere, even in the same body of water. The reliability of the ice cover is determined not only by color and thickness, but also by a number of other indicators. Consider also:
- The nature of the reservoir: is it a pond, lake or river, and is there a noticeable current under the ice? Does the body of water have tributaries or sources? This can be cause for concern.
- Water composition: is it salty or fresh? Sea ice is usually less durable and, at the same thickness, may not support the same weight as freshwater ice. For more details on the exact criteria, see the external links below.
- Maximum temperature and season: temperatures are constantly changing. Consider the local climate. Winter ice is much stronger than spring ice; the latter quickly melts and becomes thinner under the rays of the sun.
- The size and depth of the body of water: Freeze up on large bodies of water takes much longer than on small ones.
- Snow cover: snow is a natural heat insulator; ice is usually thinner and less durable under snow.
- Load Size: How much pressure are you applying to the ice? Does it have to support only you or your vehicle as well? The human body and the snowmobile with the same body on it have very different parameters of weight distribution.
10 If you have the slightest doubt, find an alternative. Ice skating enthusiasts can always use the ice rink or the controlled part of the lake; skiers and snowmobile drivers can be advised to stick to the roads on land; pedestrians are also better off avoiding the ice. In any case, they all need to have a rescue kit with them, no matter where they are going to go and how long they are going to be on the road.

Hints

Remember that well-worn ice roads and crossings do not make the ice stronger. Routes should be changed regularly.
In case you NEED to cross the pond on ice, the best way to do this is to get down on all fours and move with your arms and legs wide apart. Try to move like a lizard, evenly distributing your body weight. Taking a long board or pole with you is a great idea. If the ice starts to crack - and you sometimes get a second warning - place the pole on the ice and use it to spread your weight over a larger area.
When traveling, treat other people responsibly. If you are a leader (in a school or sports camp, etc.), make sure that your charges do not leave the territory you have defined and return them immediately. Make sure there are enough warning signs to prevent skaters, etc., from making an irreparable mistake and leaving the safe area. It is also necessary that a person trained in first aid with a rescue kit must be present nearby.
Dog sledding on ice is a little safer because dogs can feel cracks forming. Still, do nothing risky and be just as prepared for accidents as with other winter sports.
If you must skate on thin ice (literally), make sure the water is shallow (i.e. 2 - 3 feet (60 - 90cm)). If you fail, you will get wet and cold, but you will be able to get ashore despite the unpleasant sensations. Of course, this is unacceptable for children.
It is safer for two to cross unreliable ice on opposite sides of a canoe pushed on the ice. Don't forget the paddles. You may need them on the leads.

Warnings

This article applies to residents of countries with cold climates such as Canada, the northern United States, and Russia. If your country or area does not have normal winter conditions, keep in mind that ice will be unsafe at any time of the year and do not even think about doing any of the above without professional advice, preferably local government agencies authorized to make such recommendations.
Never drink alcohol while doing winter sports - wait until you return to your home or cottage.Alcohol can cause errors in snowmobile handling, increase reaction times, and impair your ability to act quickly in an emergency. Alcohol does not help fight the cold; in fact, it increases heat transfer and can lead to hypothermia.
Never ride ice unless it has been professionally tested and found to be safe. But even when this condition is met, drivers sometimes fall through the ice. If you have to drive, be on the lookout - don't drive, lower the windows (turn on the stove to high power if it makes you uncomfortable) and unfasten your seat belts.
- Make sure you know how to get out of a sinking car and that you have discussed rescue measures with all passengers.
- Drive slowly on ice, especially when approaching the shore. Why? The weight of the car - be it a snowmobile, car or truck - presses on the ice from above. As you progress, this causes a small but sensitive waveform that travels across the ice in front of you. This wave can bounce off the shore as you approach. Depending on your weight and speed, this could cause an ice break.
- Do not take your children on ice road trips unless there is simply no other way to provide the necessary emergency assistance. You won't have time to think about them when you get out of the sinking car.
Drivers of snowmobiles should not drive at high speed - if they do not see what is ahead, most likely they will fall into the wormwood, because they will not be able to brake in time. In addition, on slippery ice, it may be simply impossible to sharply bypass the suddenly appeared wormwood. More likely to get into a skid, as a result of which you just fall into the water. Better stay ashore.
Never skate, play, or travel on ice, on foot, skiing, or in a snowmobile at night. You will not be able to see anything if misfortune occurs and, most likely, you will not receive help.
Don't assume that a sudden cold snap makes the ice safer. In fact, in this case, the ice becomes brittle and brittle even sooner than during a brief thaw. Always check.
The fact that ice seems safe in the area you surveyed does not mean that somewhere else in the same reservoir it will be. If you are going to go outside the area you explored, you must again check or define the boundaries of the security zone.
When driving on a ski trail or snowmobile road, do not use ice-covered streams, rivers, ponds or lakes as the shortest route unless recognized as such by local authorities and surveyed daily. People often want to take a shortcut at the end of the day, when the athletes are tired and want to get home sooner and it gets dark; mostly accidents happen at this time, simply because you are tired. In addition, the influence of daytime heat is felt towards the end of the day, when the ice becomes the least durable.