Top safety tips for playing on ice this winter
The changing of temperatures this time of year can create dangerous ice conditions on our frozen lakes and waterways.
Please keep these tips in mind if you plan on venturing out on the ice:
No ice is safe ice
- Never assume any ice is safe, even thick ice can be weak and it's appearance can be misleading
Always wear a PDF (personal flotation device)
- Dress appropriately and bring a buddy
Remember these numbers: 1:10:1
- You have 1 minute to get your breathing under control
- 10 minutes of useful movement before hypothermia slows your motor functions
- 1 hour of survivability in ice water
Before leaving home, you should also check with local authorities and never go out on ice at night. Always ensure you have told someone where you are planning to go and your return time. Wear appropriate clothing and bring proper equipment for safety and comfort.
Ice water rescues can be very dangerous. If you see someone in trouble call 911 immediately.
Destination Ontario has 3 steps for ice safety:
1) Complete a visual inspection
If you see any of these signs during your visual inspection, do not go out onto the ice:
- cracks, breaks or holes in the ice
- water on top of the ice
- ice that's soft or mushy
2) Note the colour of the ice
The next step in the inspection is to look at the colour of the ice, which is extremely important. There are three colours of ice and each means different things when it comes to the ice’s strength:
- Dull grey is a sure sign of unsafe ice. This grey colour means the ice is unsafe and that water is present. This ice will NOT support much weight. Grey is very common in the spring and in faster moving water all winter long.
- White opaque ice or snow ice is only half as strong as blue ice. It is formed by wet snow freezing on the top of existing ice. It can be very dangerous if this ice has formed on top of ice that is not completely frozen. When this forms, it takes even longer for the lower-level ice to solidify. This type of ice can cover up danger and has caught even seasoned anglers off guard.
- Blue ice is clear and strong and the safest ice of all. The colour of ice deepens with increasing thickness because water is naturally turquoise blue. It forms when the temperature drops below minus 8 degrees Celsius.
3) Measure the thickness of the ice
The final step is ice measurement, and this must always be done. Do not test alone; always ensure you’re using the buddy system. You can chip the ice with an axe or hatchet to create a small hole in the ice or use an ice auger or spud bar. Then measure the thickness of the ice. Continue to check the ice thickness as you move around the lake. Remember: ice thickness is NOT uniform across most lakes and rivers.
Fore more info on ice measurement and tips to keep you safe this winter, click here.