COLUMBUS, OH -- With winter in full swing,
the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) urges outdoor
enthusiasts who venture onto frozen lakes and ponds for ice
fishing, skating, and other activities to do so with extreme
caution.
Ohio's changeable weather, and
the speed at which ice can melt and shift, guarantees
that it is never 100 percent
safe. Ice quality and thickness often vary greatly on the
state's waterways. And numerous factors (many unseen!)
can change a safe outing to one that is deadly. "We
recommend that all persons who go out onto the ice wear
a life jacket or float coat, be dressed appropriately to
prevent hypothermia, and be prepared to handle any type
of emergency that may occur," said Ken Alvey, chief
of the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
Snow cover, wind, thawed and re-frozen ice, and under-flowing
water all cause unseen changes in ice quality. Ice on ponds
with operating aeration systems is often weaker than it
appears and may be unsafe. Any boating activity that might
occur also impacts ice quality. In general, newly formed
ice that is at least 4 inches thick will support an adult
for walking. However, once the same thickness of ice has
aged through freezing and re-thawing or through other degrading
forces, it may no longer be safe.
ODNR recommends that anyone planning an outdoor activity
involving ice-covered water wear a life jacket and be prepared
for the possibility of falling through the surface. In
addition to the risk of drowning, an individual falling
through ice may become victim to hypothermia, a potentially
fatal loss of body heat.
Tips for staying safe out on
the ice:
1) First, always remember that ice-covered
water is never completely safe. Anyone new to ice fishing, or interested
in learning how to safely ice fish, should seek
out a licensed ice-fishing guide . A list of certified
guides
is available by calling the ODNR Division of Wildlife's
Sandusky office at 419-625-8062. Ask at a local bait
shop about known areas of thin or dangerous ice. 2) Always
go out with friends and let
others know when you will be on the ice and when you will
return. If possible,
take with you a cellular phone wrapped in a plastic bag.
3) Use safe alternatives to local streams
or lakes for skating or sledding. Delaware State Park in
Delaware
County and Dillon State Park in Muskingum County offer
free access
to their ice-skating areas.
4) Understand
wind chill factors are relative temperature guides. Although
a thermometer may read 40 degrees,
a wind speed of 20 miles per hour can cause a body
to lose
heat
as if the temperature were actually 18 degrees.
5) Carry two ice picks, screwdrivers,
or large nails to create leverage for pulling yourself
out of the
water. They are much more effective than bare hands.
Also, carry
a whistle or other noisemaker to alert people that
you are in distress.
6) Dress in layers and add extra clothing
for the head, neck, sides, and groin, which are the primary
heat-loss
areas. Wool and modern synthetics are good fabric
choices for clothing; cotton when wet is slow
to
dry.
7) Wear a Coast Guard-approved life
jacket or float coat. Life vests provide excellent flotation
and
protection from hypothermia.
Keep an extra set of clothes in your car in
case you do need dry clothing.
8) Avoid alcoholic beverages . In addition
to reducing reaction times, alcohol lowers
your
internal temperature
and increases the chances of suffering hypothermia.
9) Never drive a vehicle, snowmobile
or all-terrain vehicle onto ice . Leave this to professional
guides. This is
extremely dangerous and most insurance
policies
will not cover ice
fishermen's vehicles that have dropped
through the ice. Ice conditions on Lake Erie can vary from area to area
and anglers are encouraged to use the services of a reputable
ice-fishing guide. Additional information on waterway safety,
fishing opportunities and other ODNR programs is available
at ohiodnr.com .
For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Watercraft
(614) 265-6695
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
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