Ice and Cold Water Safety

Each winter, many residents are injured from exposure in cold water incidents. 

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, each year there are over 7,000 drownings and 20,000 near-drownings in the United States.  Over half of these incidents occur in cold water.

Recent calls and the weather have prompted several community requests for information on cold water safety.  The Arvada Fire District responds to many ice related rescue calls involving people and pets. We would like to offer these tips to prevent you or a loved one from becoming the next victim:

How thick is “safe” ice?
Ice on moving water in rivers, streams and brooks is never safe.  The thickness of ice on ponds and lakes depends upon water currents or springs, depth and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks.  Daily changes in temperature cause ice to expand and contract, which affects its strength.  Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely “safe”.

The only “safe” ice is at a skating arena!

What to do if someone falls through the ice? 
Act quickly and call 911 for help immediately.  Make sure properly trained and equipped rescue personnel are alerted to respond.

DO NOT go out on the ice.  Many times would-be rescuers become victims themselves.

Reach, Throw, or Row.  Extend a branch, pole, or ladder to the victim.  Throw them a buoyant object such as a life ring or float tied to a rope.  If a boat is nearby, row out to the victim or push it toward them. 

Move or send someone else to a different location to get two points of reference.  This will help rescuers pinpoint the location of the person if they are no longer visible when help arrives.  

Personal safety tips
If you fall into cold water, get into HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position).  Bring your knees to your chest, hold your upper arms tightly to your sides and clasp your hands in front of you, and cover your head if possible to protect your body from heat loss.

DO NOT try to swim unless a boat, floating object, or the shore are close by.  Swimming causes “warm” blood to circulate to your arms and legs, where it cools off quickly and reduces survival time by as much as 35-50%.

Thanks to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Safety for portions of this article.