ICE & COLD WATER SAFETY
By Lieutenant Denny Hughes, Farmington Hills Fire Department
The past few weeks have been brutally cold in Southeastern Michigan, (Farmington Hills, MI) but a slight warm-up is in the near future. With sudden changes in temperatures, we have to be extremely careful on and around any bodies of water, including lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.
You cannot judge the thickness of ice by its appearance, the day's temperature or the amount of snow on the ice. The depth of the water under the ice, and load distribution and underwater currents, will determine the thickness. Ice a foot thick in one area may only be a few inches thick just a few feet away. Winter enthusiasts, who have been waiting for this weather for the past few months to take every opportunity to snowmobile, skate, ice fish or maybe cross country ski, will need to take extra precautions when they are on the ice.
Water colder than normal body temperature (98.6 degrees) is considered "cold water." Exposure to cold water drains away body heat 25-30 times faster than air. Water doesn't have to be iced over to cause hypothermia. The lower the temperature of the water, the faster the onset of hypothermia will occur. Hypothermia is caused by the excessive lowering of the body temperature. A drop in the body's core temperature below 95 degrees will cause shivering, confusion, loss of muscle strength, and may lead to unconsciousness or death. This holds true in both humans and animals. Experts estimate that half of all drowning victims die from the effects of the cold water, not from water-filled lungs.
Each year, there are over 7,000 drownings, and 20,000 near drownings in the United States . Half of these occur in cold water. Keep these tips in mind when you venture out onto the ice:
· Be cautious of snow-covered ice. Snow will provide insulation, preventing the ice from freezing evenly and quickly. It will also cover hidden signs of weak ice.
· Never go on ice alone! Always wear a personal floatation device (PFD). It may keep you from drowning and protect you from hypothermia.
· Avoid alcohol. Consumption of alcohol will increase the risk of hypothermia, increases fatigue, impairs quick decision making, and will slow your reaction time.
· Teach children about ice and cold water safety. Be sure they wear personal flotation devices. It may not look "cool" to wear one on the ice, but it just may save your life.
· Keep pets away from the ice. Never attempt to rescue your pet if it falls through the ice. Dial 911 immediately. Firefighters are trained and have proper equipment to make a rescue attempt.
· Regardless of the thickness, do not drive your vehicle onto the ice. This is a disaster waiting to happen.
· Do not attempt to make a rescue by yourself. Would-be rescuers may become victims themselves. Act quickly and dial 911 immediately after someone falls through the ice. You may try to extend a branch, or slide a ladder to the victim from the shore. Try to throw them something buoyant such as a life ring or float tied to a rope. If a boat is nearby, try to slide it out for them to reach.
Remember, do not attempt to make a rescue by yourself. If the ice didn't hold the victim who fell through, it isn't going to hold you either! Enjoy the winter fun, but be safe!
Lieutenant Denny Hughes is a fire safety educator with the Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department. He can be reached at DHughes@fhgov.com or 248-871-2820. Lieutenant Hughes is a fine example of why Farmington Hills Fire Department is so good. He goes the extra step to help educate and explain safety tips for all Farmington Hills residents.
photo courtesy of http://freephoto.com
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Russ Ravary your Metro Detroit realtor
And don't kick a pile of snow. Bears don't like that.
Yikes, look at that ice! Russ, we have to be cautious of black ice here in the Lynchburg area more than snow. Great information.
Russ, Every year here there is someone being pulled out because folks drive out on the lake. Ice fishing is big here too and I think some test the lake a little early. Me, I like to be in my warm cozy house.
You can definitely never be too careful or safe around water in the winter! Did you see the news today about the a miles-wide ice floe that broke away from Lake Erie's shoreline, trapping more than 130 fishermen, some for as long as four hours? One man fell into the water and later died. From what I read, the fishermen were stranded about 1,000 yards off shore on their floating piece of ice.