2. Water & Ice Safety
Part 2: Ice Safety
nanaimo-info-blog.com
www.wood.army.mil
3. Venturing out on the ice…
• Ice Skating/Hockey
• Snowmobiling
• Ice fishing
• Skiing/snowshoeing
www.dreamstime.com
www.animatedtv.about.com
4. When is the ice safe?
The colour of the ice may indicate ice strength.
• Clear blue ice is the strongest.
• White opaque or snow ice is half as strong as
blue ice. This ice forms when wet snow
freezes on ice. Indicates thawing and
refreezing
• Grey/black ice is unsafe. This indicates
melting and the presence of water.
www.redcross.ca
5. When is the ice safe?
Recommended Ice Thickness:
• 15 cm for walking or skating alone
• 20 cm for hockey, skating groups
• 25 cm for snowmobiling
**Caution– Ice might be 30 cm thick in one area
but much thinner a few meters away
www.redcross.ca
7. Ice thickness/strength is affected by:
• Water depth, size of the body of water
• Currents and water speed
• Changing water levels
• Logs, rocks, docks that absorb heat from the
sun
• Changing air temperatures
• Shock waves from vehicles on the ice
• Wind currents
www.redcross.ca
8. Safety Precautions When
Travelling on Ice
• When travelling in a
group walk in a single file
and spread out.
• Check ice conditions
frequently.
• Tell someone where you
are going and when you
are going out.
• Carry a charged cellphone
in a waterproof bag
• Carry a 15 m throwing
rope
http://icefishing.notjustfishing.com
www.modernicefishing.com
www.waterproof-paper.com
www.aladdinscaveshop.co.uk
9. Safety Precautions When Travelling on Ice
• On warmer days, head back to
shore earlier as shore ice
melts first during a thaw.
• Carry safety equipment such
as ice picks and consider
wearing a PFD (personal
flotation device) if possible
• Check authorities for local ice
conditions and the weather
forecast
• Don’t travel across ice at night
or when it is snowing
• Carry spare clothes/socks in a
waterproof bag
http://icefishing.notjustfishing.com
www.my-outdoor-sports.com
www.dot.gov.nt.ca
www.sailingproshop.com
10. Ice Rescues
If someone else falls
through the ice:
• Call for help (911 etc.)
• Check if you can reach
them using a long pole
or branch from the shore
• If you are on the ice use a
long pole, branch, or rope
to reach the person who
has fallen through
www.redcross.ca
www.wtfd.org
11. Ice Rescues
• As you approach the ice
break, lie down to
distribute your weight
and slowly crawl
towards the hole
• Have the person kick
while you pull them out
• Slowly move the person
to shore or where you
know the ice is thick
www.redcross.ca
www.domino-dominosblog.blogspot.com
12. Ice Rescues
If you are alone and fall
through the ice:
• Call for help
• Do not try to climb out
where you fell in (ice is
weak here)
• Use the air trapped in
your clothes to get into
a floating position on
your stomach
www.redcross.ca
www.wired.com
13. Ice Rescues
• Reach forward onto the
broken ice without pushing
down. Kick your legs to push
your torso onto the ice.
• When you are back on the ice,
crawl on your stomach or roll
away from the open area with
your arms and legs spread out
as far as possible to evenly
distribute your weight. Move
towards the area you came
from. DO NOT stand up.
• Slowly make your way to shore
www.redcross.ca www.wired.com
