Staying safe during ice season
As winter weather has come in earnest to Cook County, ice recreation enthusiasts have started hitting the lakes.
North Shore lakes, as well as lakes across the state, are in variable conditions when it comes to ice. According to Nicole Biagi, an ice safety coordinator with the Minnesota DNR, ice conditions can both vary across a body of water and change rapidly. She told WTIP that a good approach is to both consult with someone familiar with that body of water, and to make sure to check ice yourself whenever you are considering going out on a lake or pond.
Judging ice safety
The MN DNR has a reference chart for those taking part in ice-based recreation, including what thickness is considered safe for an adult to stand on the ice, to drive a snowmobile or ATV on the ice, or to drive a heavier vehicle onto the ice. Biagi said that the MN DNR recommends that those on the ice check thickness frequently, as well as keep an eye out for visual signs that ice may be unsafe. She mentioned cues like being able to see vegetation above the ice and sudden changes in the color or texture of ice as signs of danger.
Safety items to bring onto the ice
Biagi also suggested some essential safety gear for those who are out on the ice. She said that because the majority of deaths related to falling through the ice are drowning related, a personal floatation device is important. She suggested a PFD made of foam or another inherently buoyant material, rather than an inflatable one, since the later have been known to malfunction.
Beyond a PFD, Biagi recommends that anyone on the ice carry ice picks in an easily accessible place, since they can help with getting out of a hole in the ice if someone were to fall through. For those walking on ice, cleats could be useful, and she suggested carrying a throw rope which could be valuable in a rescue situation.
Biagi added that another crucial safety element is communication. She said, “We always recommend that people go out with a buddy. Just never go out alone. And then even with going out with a buddy, you still want to let somebody know where you’re going and when you expect to return, so that if you don’t return on time, they know where to look for you, and can send help right away.”
How to respond in an emergency
Whether someone is out with their ice buddy or sees someone else fall through ice, Biagi said that what is most important is to call for help, and to try to remain calm. She said that approaching the hole in the ice could be dangerous, so while it may be difficult, it is important for bystanders to remain at a safe distance. She added that for someone who has fallen though the ice, they should employ the 1-10-1 principle.
“So the one stands for one minute at the beginning to just calm your breathing and slow your heart rate down,” she said, “And then the 10 is for 10 minutes of meaningful movement. So you have about 10 minutes where you’ll be able to pull yourself out of the water, that your body will have the strength to do that. And then the final one is for an hour before you become unconscious. And so if, after 10 minutes, you know you’re not able to pull yourself out of the water, at that point, the recommendation is just to stay still.”
Initial ice reports for Cook County
Ice skating and ice fishing are both popular winter activities for people in Cook County, and reports of ice conditions are already coming in. Below are conditions reported to WTIP by the time of publication at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5.
These condition reports are not a guarantee of the safety of any ice, and readers are encouraged to test ice thickness before taking part in any ice activities. M Baxley provided a report on where some skaters found safe ice over the past weekend and early this week. WTIP has reached out to local lodges for reports on any lakes they are monitoring.
Elbow Lake has had varying reports on ice conditions, with some areas of open water spotted, and other areas of ice thick enough for skating. Kimbal Lake was reported to have some safe ice. Mink, Deer Yard, and Northern Lights Lakes appears fully frozen and saw skaters during the weekend and early this week. It is unknown whether the ice on the entirety of those lakes has reached safe thickness.
In the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, some lakes were reported frozen, while others remain nearly completely open. The Rockwood Lodge reported that they measured 3″ of ice on Poplar Lake, but added that Dec. 2 was the first day that the bay was covered in ice, and that there was open water on Nov. 30. Several lodges, like the Gunflint Lodge and Rockwood Lodge, have live webcams that allow viewers to see whether there is ice on the lake, yet.
WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with MN DNR Ice Safety Coordinator Nicole Biagi about staying safe on the ice this season. Audio of that interview can be found below.
Kirsten Wisniewski December 5, 2024
