Fire Prevention -February 2013- Smoke Alarms
Winter recreation sports are popular among many Michiganders. Ice fishing, sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating and skiing are among the most popular. With these activities come safety precautions, especially when ice is involved. Ice can be very dangerous, and people can be injured or even killed when ice is not respected. Ice on ponds, lakes and rivers can be affected by many things. The strength and thickness of the ice should be known before and activities take place on it. To determine what activities can safely take place, a rough rule of thumb is: INCHES * ACTIVITIES 2" WALKING 4" FISHING 5" SNOWMOBILES * inches of new clear ice Note: River ice is usually 15% weaker then pond or lake ice. Ice safety points to consider include: • New ice is stronger than old ice. As ice ages, the bond between the crystals decay, making it more dangerous and weaker even if melting has not occurred. • Wind speed influence ice formation. Light winds speed up the formation. Strong winds force water from beneath the ice and can decay the edges of the ice. • Snow can insulate ice and keep it strong. It can also insulate it to keep it from freezing. When ice is covered by snow, great precautions need to be taken to determine ice thickness before starting any activity. Snow can also hide cracks, weak and open water areas. • Slush is a danger sign. It indicates that ice is no longer freezing from the bottom and indicates weak or deteriorated ice. • Ice can change with the surrounding climate conditions. Temperature, precipitation, wind speed, ice age, water depth, and water quality are all factors that affect ice strength and thickness. • Never check ice or rescue a victim of ice failure alone because you yourself could become a victim very quickly. • When is ice safe? Ice is NEVER safe! Avoid alcoholic beverages. Alcohol increase your chances for hypothermia and increases the likelihood that you could make a stupid mistake that could cost you your life.