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Icy Tips Vital For Safety |
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Monday, 21 December 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Local residents saw the first accumulation of snow this
season Friday and Saturday and with it more opportunity for ice
formation.
Today is the first official day of winter and with it comes the blistery winter weather. While the weather can provide fun for all ages, safety is one thing all local residents should keep in mind when getting out the sleds and snowmobiles.
Grand Lake St. Marys Assistant Park Director Brian Miller cautioned local residents about recreational activities on Grand Lake St. Marys and even personal ponds.
“The first thing I want to say is during the winter season — especially during Christmas break — parents need to be aware of where their children are,” Miller said. “Children are naturally attracted to the ice. We have already had some kids on the ice and a park officer had to get them off the ice and tell them it wasn’t safe.”
Miller said typically the edges provide the greatest risk for having an incident.
“Edges are typically the worst because that is where it meets the ground and the ground draws heat,” Miller said. “If they do decide to go out on the ice, they need to make sure to use a buddy system. Make sure they know where they are at all times.”
He said the most common activities on Grand Lake St. Marys include ice fishing, ice skating, ice boating and snowmobiling.
In a release sent out from Park Director Craig Morton, there is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice, but 4 inches of new, clear ice is the minimum thickness for travel on foot and 5 inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.
Tips given by Morton included testing the thickness using an ice chisel, taking safety equipment such as a life vest and providing someone with an itinerary of the trip. Miller also provided some tips if someone falls into icy water.
“First thing you want to make sure you don’t panic and hopefully you are prepared and have ice awls or picks to pull themselves back out,” Miller said. “Hollering for help would be a big thing.”
He also urged those who see someone who has fallen in to not rush to help them.
“The biggest thing I want people to realize if they see someone, they don’t become a victim themselves, natural instinct is to go help them but then we have two victims,” Miller said. “They want to make sure they call 911 and let the appropriate authorities handle it.”
Miller added ice safety training within the park district will be held in the near future as well as with the local fire departments.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 January 2010 )
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