While the winter months in Minnesota provide a plethora of fun outdoor activities, they also pose many hazards to those who choose to venture outdoors, especially on frozen lakes, ponds, and rivers. Common sense is the greatest ally in preventing ice-related accidents. A bit of advance planning and practicing basic precautions can help you return home safely from your outdoor activities this winter.

Remember there is no such thing as 100% safe ice. The strength of ice cannot be assessed only from its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all these factors—plus the depth of water under the ice, size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climate conditions.

Ice Safety Tips  

*Dress warmly in layers and carry basic safety gear, such as a cellphone, ice claws, a life jacket, and a length of rope.

*Don’t go alone. Head out with friends or family. Make sure someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return.

*Know before you go. Don’t travel in areas you are not familiar with and don’t travel at night or during reduced visibility. And make sure you are aware of the ice conditions.

*Always actively supervise children playing on or near ice.

*Avoid inlets, outlets, or narrows that may have currents that can thin the ice.

*If you are driving on ice, have an escape plan. Open your windows, unlock your doors, ensure seat belts are unfastened, and turn on your lights to allow you to quickly escape from your vehicle should it go through the ice. Avoid parking on ice but if necessary, vehicles should be at least 50 feet apart and be moved every two hours.

*If you do break through the ice, don’t panic. Move back to where you fell in, where you know the ice was solid. Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Carry a set of ice picks; they can help you pull yourself out if you do fall through the ice; wear them around your neck or put them in an easily accessible pocket. Once out of the water, roll away from the hole until you reach solid ice.

*If someone else falls in, call 911 for help first and resist the urge to run up to the edge of the hole. If you can reach the victim from safety, extend an object such as a rope, ladder, or jumper cables to the victim.

The Department of Natural Resources does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. Your safety is your responsibility. The following are guidelines from the National Weather Service for minimum ice thickness: 4 inches for walking and ice fishing, 5-7 inches for snowmobiling, 8-12 inches for a car or small pickup, and 12-15 inches for a medium-sized truck.