Be safe on the ice | PoconoRecord.com

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Recent cold weather has finally capped most area lakes and ponds with a frozen layer of ice. Some ice fishing is being reported around the Poconos as anglers push the envelope to get in on their favorite winter activity.

Ice fishing is very popular and a great way to shake the cabin fever blues while putting some fresh fillets on the table.

Never assume the ice is safe on an entire lake just because you see others out there. I see anglers on Lake Wallenpaupack sitting on the ice with open water just out past the cove. You can't judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow.

Ice 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 even animal activity.

The recommended minimum thicknesses for new clear ice are 4 inches for a single person and small group activities, 5 inches for snowmobiles and ATVs, and 8-10 inches to support small to medium cars, and pickups.

For white or slushy ice, these numbers should be doubled. Drilling test holes is the only way to know for sure what you are standing on.

Never ice fish alone. Wearing a personal floatation vest is also not a bad idea.

I carry a coil of rope and a floatation device I can throw in case someone should fall through. One can quickly toss that donut for the victim to get into before the cold saps their strength and thought process, which happens quickly.

If you do fall in, don't remove your outer garments as they can trap air to provide warmth and flotation. Turn toward the direction you came. That's probably the strongest ice.

Place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface. This is where a pair of nails, sharpened screwdrivers or ice picks come in handy in, providing the extra traction you need to pull yourself up onto the ice.

Kick your feet and dig in your ice picks to work your way back onto the solid ice. If your clothes have trapped a lot of water, you may have to lift yourself partially out of the water on your elbows to let the water drain before starting forward.

Lie flat on the ice once you are out and roll away from the hole to keep your weight spread out. This may help prevent you from breaking through again. Get to a warm, dry, sheltered area and re-warm yourself immediately.

In moderate to severe cases of cold water hypothermia, seek medical attention. Cold blood trapped in your extremities can come rushing back to your heart after you begin to re-warm.

The shock of the chilled blood may cause ventricular fibrillation, leading to a heart attack and death.

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Source: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130108/SPORTS/301080307

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