Ice safety

It is that time of year again when Wisconsin residents start to look out at the ice on local bodies of water and begin to pine for their favorite winter activities. Unfortunately, too often we hear on the news about tragic deaths occuring because of unsafe ice. As your local lake begins to ice over, please remember the following safety tips.

1. Any ice less than 4 inches thick is quite dangerous, despite what your favorite ice fisherman may say..
2. It takes 8 inches of ice to minimally support a car or light truck.
3. If you have a medium or heavy dut truck, it is best to wait until there is a foot of ice.
4. River ice is highly unpredictable. Even if you are very familiar with the ice paterns of a river, the river can still surprise you. River ice is popular in some areas with snowmobilers, but really should be avoided.
5. Lakes with rivers that pass through them can have areas with a current. Those currents can lead to thin ice.
6. If snowmobiling, never attempt to cross open water or areas you know to be prone to thin ice.
7. If you are out enjoying the ice, you should always have ice spikes with you. If you do break through the ice, spikes can help you drag yourself out.
8. On very large bodies of water, ice development starts near shore and moves to the center. The farther out you get on a very large body of water, the less likely the ice will be safe.
9. If possible, bring someone else with you. That person may be your only chance to get help if you do fall through.
10. If the ice makes you nervous for any reason, listen to your gut and get off of it. Your gut is usually right.