Temperatures in Michigan were all over the place this week with some areas reaching 50 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. That has the U.S. Coast Guard warning the public to be careful as ice shifts on lakes and ponds.
While warmer air temperatures will cause ice to melt, water temperatures will remain dangerously cold.
“Certain points in the ice will melt then overnight or the next cold day, they refreeze,” said Petty Officer Third Class Omar Faba, a Coast Guard spokesperson. “Now that ice is thinner and potentially weaker and more of a hazard.”
Areas around bridges, inlets and outlets, are most suspect for thin ice. Cracks, seams, pressure ridges and slushy areas typically signify the ice is melting.
Faba said, if you do need to go out on icy water bodies, use the ICE safety acronym:
- Information about the weather conditions
- Clothing and dressing for the temperature of the water
- Equipment to call for help should you fall in
It’s also important to never go out on the ice alone.
“Should you fall in, your buddy, or your friend or your family who's joining us is hopefully in a safer situation, is able to make the effort to communicate with the Coast Guard or a 911 dispatcher,” Faba said.
In a press release, the U.S. Coast Guard District 9, based out of Cleveland included the following tips to stay safe on the ice:
- Always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. A life jacket allows a person to float with a minimum of energy expended and allows the person to assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position by bringing the knees close to the chest and holding them in place by wrapping the arms around the shin portions of the legs.
- Dress for the water temperature not the air temperature. Don’t let warm temperatures deceive you. Wear a dry suit in any cold-water environment to increase the chance of surviving a fall into the water.
- Hypothermia is the biggest danger after falling into the water, even if one manages to get out immediately. Every minute counts in a cold water environment. Hypothermia sets in quickly as the human body's core temperature drops below 95 degrees (35 degrees C). Cold water drains a body's heat up to 25 times faster than cold air.
- Dress in bright colors, wear reflective clothing, patches, or tape, and wear an exposure suit that is waterproof. The chance of locating a person in distress is increased when the individual wears bright and reflective clothing.
- Never go out on the water alone; always use the buddy system. File a float plan to let a friend or relative know where you’re going and how long you expect to be gone.
- Carry a registered personal locator beacon in addition to a marine radio to alert the Coast Guard and local safety agencies of potential distress. Consider a waterproof hand-held model that can be worn. Bring ice awls or screwdrivers in case you need to self-rescue.
