Walking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing (with or without a car), cross-country skiing, skating and sports are all dangerous pastimes when you can't tell if the ice is thick enough to carry a weight. There are ways to assess the potential safety of ice, such as looking at its color, testing its thickness and being aware that there are some external factors to consider such as temperature and local conditions and knowledge. However, no sport practiced on an ice sheet where there is under water is ever completely safe. If in doubt, don't go on ice; also, never venture there when it is too early or too late in the season.
Steps
Step 1. Know that ice will never be completely safe
Conditions and some unknown or unseen factors can make apparently safe ice dangerous. Take all necessary precautions to avoid setbacks and trigger a contingency plan immediately if something goes wrong.
Step 2. Make a contingency plan
Get ready with a contingency plan that you can instantly trigger if something goes wrong when you test the ice or do some recreational activities.
- For those who are not experienced, it must first be said that you have to go on the ice with an extreme cold type of clothing. Just put on any buoyancy element, even a boat life jacket is fine, especially if you're testing the ice or using a snowmobile. Bring an ice pick with you because it can hold you back if you fall into the water. Never go alone, go on the ice in a group, be at least two or three. Tell other people where you are and what time you plan to go home. You don't have to take an ice expedition lightly.
- Keep a waterproof bag handy with spare warm clothes. You will need them to replace wet ones immediately, thus reducing the risk of hypothermia. As a complement to the emergency kit you can also bring a blanket, hand and foot warmers, sturdy socks, spare caps, candles and matches. Take all this equipment with you when you practice any winter sport, even for outdoor skating. See the "Things You Will Need" section for more information.
Step 3. Know that ice safety is determined by a combination of factors, not just one
Ice safety can be determined with the simultaneous evaluation of these factors:
- The appearance of ice - color, texture and characteristics
- The thickness of the ice - there are various safe levels of thickness, depending on what you will be doing on the ice, and are shown below
- The outside temperature, also considering the time of year and time of day
- The snow cover
- The depth of the water under the ice
- The size of the body of water
- The chemical composition of the water - whether it is sweet or salty
- Variations in the local climate
- The extent of the ice
Step 4. Prefer ice checked frequently by competent authorities
The authorities in question can be hotel staff or officials from the state or a park. At a minimum, checks should be carried out on a daily basis. Ask them for more information if the information in this article isn't enough for you. In most cases they have professional measuring systems and implement quality procedures, and have experience of ice and ice accidents, thanks also to their specific preparation. You will thus feel safer and save yourself the risk of testing the ice. However, take all necessary precautions.
Step 5. Ask local people questions
If you're not a local, don't take stock alone. Stop at the grocery store, ski or souvenir shop and have a few words, or go to a police or fire station and ask about the most and least dangerous places in the area. People prefer to help you before they come and rescue you later.
Step 6. Look at the ice
Look at the ice to see if there are any cracks, cracks, weak or abnormal spots and to identify the color (or colors) of the ice. You cannot rely on evaluations made with the naked eye alone.
. This is just a first look that will help you decide whether or not it is worthwhile to start testing ice.
- If you see any of the signs listed below, you can also directly give up and give up going on the ice:
- Water flowing near or on the edges of the ice
- Gushes of water under the ice in ponds and lakes
- Water flowing into and / or out of the ice sheet
- Cracks, cracks or holes
- Ice that appears to have thawed and refrozen
- Abnormal surfaces that you didn't see at first - such as pressure ridges caused by winds or currents
- Remember this saying: "Blue and often you have access; Fine and crumbly, not recommended."
Step 7. Know the meanings of the ice color
You cannot rely on color alone, even if it is a very useful indicator. For example, ice of any color if subject to the force of the flowing water below will be lighter than ice not subject to that pressure. In general, from the color of the ice you can understand the following:
- Light gray to black - Ice that is melting, the phenomenon occurs even if the temperature is below 0 ° C. Dangerous, the low density can not hold a weight, do not get close.
- White to dull color - Snow saturated with water freezes on the surface resulting in another thin layer of ice. In most cases it is yielding due to the porous structure given by the air pockets.
- Light blue to clear - Very dense and strong, it's the safest ice to stand on if thick enough, don't get close if it's not at least 10cm thick.
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Slushy, mottled or "rotten" ice - not so much in color but in texture. This ice is thawing and in the form of slush. It's a delusional ice - it may seem thick on the surface but is rotting at the base and center. It is found mostly in spring and can also have brown patches due to plant tannins, dirt and other natural materials that are reappearing in the thaw process. It is advisable not to even put your feet on it.
Know When Ice is Safe Step 8 Step 8. Test the thickness of the ice
If you have already done all the observations and you feel confident, you will need to keep these tips in mind to test the thickness of the ice.
- Take the test in the presence of at least one other person. Wear something that allows you to float and use ropes that the person with you can pull if something goes wrong.
- Get on the ice only if the edge of the ice is stable. If, on the other hand, it is muddy or has cracks, it is not recommended to proceed, as the ice coast line is the most yielding point.
- Cut a hole in the ice with an ax or hatchet, or even better with an ice drill (a special tool that drills through ice), to measure the thickness in this way. Use a measuring tool to determine the thickness.
- Learn the safe thickness margins of ice. There are some recommended thickness measurements that you will have to establish for each activity you want to undertake (N. B. They are recommended, not guaranteed.) The ice begins to be "safe" from about 10-15cm thick. Do not walk on ice 7 cm or less thick. In any case, even with a thickness of 23-25 cm, unexpected dangerous situations can arise such as a flow of running water that constantly thins the internal part of the ice sheet. Thickness is not a good safety indicator either, as the ice can collapse at any time.
- In general, the rules for measuring ice are as follows:
- 7 cm (new ice) - WIDE
- 10 cm - suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (about 90 kg)
- 12 cm - suitable for a single snowmobile or jeep (about 360 kg)
- 20-30cm - suitable for one car and a group of people (about 680-900kg)
- 30-38cm - suitable for a light pickup or van
- These are standard sizes.
Step 9. Know that the strength of the ice is not the same everywhere, not even on the same body of water
The strength of the ice is influenced by other factors besides color and thickness. Take note:
- The place where the ice is: is it on a pond, a lake, a stream, is there a large flow of running water below? Is there water in or out of the body of water? You can have many reasons for concern.
- Water quality: is it sweet or salty? Frozen seawater tends to be softer and needs more thickness than freshwater to hold the same weight. You can consult the links at the bottom of the article (they are in English) to know the exact measurements.
- Outdoor temperature and season: the temperature changes constantly. Pay attention to the microclimates of the area. Mid-winter ice is renowned for being much stronger than spring ice, when it is subjected to a rapid thaw and warmer sun rays.
- The extent and depth of the body of water: large bodies of water take longer to freeze than small ones.
- Presence of snow on ice: snow acts as an insulator and can heat the water; ice under snow is generally thinner and softer than ice without snow.
- Weight on ice: what are you putting on the ice? Is it just you or you and a vehicle? There is a big difference between a body and a snowmobile in the distribution of weight on the ice surface.
Step 10. When in doubt, find alternatives
You can skate on a rink or on a supervised lake area; you can use the ski slopes on land for skiing or snowmobiling; you can walk on trails without venturing onto an icy surface. Every sportsman should bring with him some emergency goods whatever the expected duration or the place of the excursion.
Advice
- Be careful as repeated tire swipes can weaken the ice. The route must be varied regularly.
- Be careful not to get missing. If you are the designated authority (for a school, for a sporting excursion) or if you have a general responsibility towards other people, check that they do not leave the enclosed area, and if it happens have them come back immediately. Make sure you put up signs so that skaters etc. you are not mistaken by inadvertently leaving the tested area. You should also have a first aid kit on hand, in addition to the emergency kit.
- Riding a dog sled is slightly safer because dogs sense if the ice is about to break. Once again, however, don't take any chances and be prepared for any unexpected like in any other winter sport.
- If you MUST cross the ice, it is best to do it by crawling. Think about how lizards move, shifting the weight of the body equally distributed. It is a good idea to bring a board or pole with you. If you start to feel any cracks - sometimes we have two seconds' notice - lay the board out on the ice and use it to distribute your weight.
- While all other factors are the same, consider that ice forms faster on shallow water. So the ice will likely be thicker near the shore and on shallow bodies of water than in deep areas.
- If you have to skate on thin ice, make sure the water below is shallow (for example, a maximum of 60-90cm). If it breaks, you'll get wet and cold, but you'll be able to get out of the water and back up, with just a little embarrassment. Don't do this if you have children with you, however.
- It is possible for two to cross an uncertain ice surface with a certain safety margin by dragging a canoe in the middle. Don't forget to bring your oars, if the ice breaks you will need them.
Warnings
- Don't drink when doing winter sports - wait until you get home or to the cabin. Alcohol can impair snowmobile driving, reaction times and the ability to react in the event of an accident. Alcohol does not help you feel less cold; on the contrary it can induce hypothermia.
- Don't walk, skate, play, ski, or snowmobile on ice at night. If things took a turn for the worse you wouldn't see anything and if you asked for help you would be much less likely to find someone nearby to help.
- Even if the tested ice area seems safe, it does not necessarily mean that it is safe elsewhere on the body of water. If you intend to move to an area that you have not tested you must test again, or mark the area you will use.
- Never drive a vehicle on ice unless it has been professionally tested and found to be safe. Even after testing, plate breaks can sometimes occur. If you really have to drive, go slowly out of caution, roll down the windows (turn on the heating if you're cold!) And unfasten your seat belts.
- Make sure you know how to escape from a sinking car, and that you have talked about safety procedures to all passengers.
- When driving on ice go slow, especially as you approach the shore. Because? The weight of the vehicle - whether it's a snowmobile, car or van - presses on the ice. As you go along you create a small but significant shock wave that precedes you on the ice. This wave can crash on the shore.
- Avoid crossing the ice with a vehicle that you carry children in unless there are alternatives for emergency reasons. You won't have time to meet their and your needs as you try to free yourself from a sinking car.
- Don't think that if it's freezing cold you'll be safe. On the contrary, the cold that is too severe can make the ice more fragile than in a warmer weather. Always check the weather.
- This article is especially true for very cold climates and regions such as Canada, the Northern United States and Russia. If your country or area does not report such severe weather conditions, please be aware that "your" ice is always unsafe and do not attempt any of these activities without professional opinion, preferably from a state body authorized to provide advice on weather and natural conditions.
- Snowmobile riders don't have to go fast - if you can't see what you are getting in front of you, you could very well fall into a hole because you can't stop in time. Even turning the vehicle on itself would have the same result. Stay on the mainland, better to ski.
- If you are following the trail left by a snowmobile or a pair of skis, do not use frozen streams, rivers, ponds or lakes as a shortcut unless they have been officially intended to serve as a shortcut by local authorities who do daily ice tests. Shortcuts are usually taken at the end of the day when it is getting dark and a sportsman is tired and just wants to go home. Accidents also occur when the driver is tired. In addition, the ice at this time of day is warmer because the sun has been beating us for several hours.
