Jackster1
01-21-2002, 07:40 AM
I ran across this site while surfing and thought it might keep some members a little safer while out on the ice. The link I've added at the end of this cut-and-paste has several good articles on ice safety including how to judge good ice and how to make claws to get you back on top of the ice.
by Bob Dill, from the Int'l Ice Yacht Racing web site
Occasionally people find themselves in the water with wet, slippery black ice all around them. We had a near fatality in Vermont a few years ago when a skater tried to cross a pressure ridge. He stepped on a small loose plate and fell in. He had no ice picks and was unable to get out. His cries for help were heard by nearby iceboaters after he had been in the water for about 10 minutes. He was fairly hypothermic by the time we got him to shore.
To assess what is required to get out in this situation, we cut a hole in the ice and jumped in with rope and a dry suit on. By far the easiest way to get out is with ice picks, ice awls, bear claws or whatever you call them. If you don't have them, don't panic and act fast. Swim to the edge of the good ice, put your forearms on the ice, get your body near horizontal and with powerful frog kicks you can push yourself out. You should lift with your arms, but only straight up. This will help you get over the ice edge as you kick. Don't try to pull yourself out with your arms, they will only slip off. The idea is to keep yourself low and use the frog kick to push yourself onto the ice. Once out, get to shore or help quickly and out of your wet clothing as soon as possible.
A warm shower is almost always in order after a 32 degree swim. If a victim is having difficulty walking, talking or has a noticeable pallor or weak pulse in his extremities, call a rescue squad. Try to rewarm the victim in a shower or bath or at least with other people and warm drinks until the rescue squad arrives. Concentrate on warming the torso, not the extremities. The rescue squad should be called as soon as things even begin to look like significant hypothermia might be involved so they can be ready and waiting when the victim gets to shore.
www.sailingsource.com/ice/articles.htm
by Bob Dill, from the Int'l Ice Yacht Racing web site
Occasionally people find themselves in the water with wet, slippery black ice all around them. We had a near fatality in Vermont a few years ago when a skater tried to cross a pressure ridge. He stepped on a small loose plate and fell in. He had no ice picks and was unable to get out. His cries for help were heard by nearby iceboaters after he had been in the water for about 10 minutes. He was fairly hypothermic by the time we got him to shore.
To assess what is required to get out in this situation, we cut a hole in the ice and jumped in with rope and a dry suit on. By far the easiest way to get out is with ice picks, ice awls, bear claws or whatever you call them. If you don't have them, don't panic and act fast. Swim to the edge of the good ice, put your forearms on the ice, get your body near horizontal and with powerful frog kicks you can push yourself out. You should lift with your arms, but only straight up. This will help you get over the ice edge as you kick. Don't try to pull yourself out with your arms, they will only slip off. The idea is to keep yourself low and use the frog kick to push yourself onto the ice. Once out, get to shore or help quickly and out of your wet clothing as soon as possible.
A warm shower is almost always in order after a 32 degree swim. If a victim is having difficulty walking, talking or has a noticeable pallor or weak pulse in his extremities, call a rescue squad. Try to rewarm the victim in a shower or bath or at least with other people and warm drinks until the rescue squad arrives. Concentrate on warming the torso, not the extremities. The rescue squad should be called as soon as things even begin to look like significant hypothermia might be involved so they can be ready and waiting when the victim gets to shore.
www.sailingsource.com/ice/articles.htm