As temperatures drop in Connecticut this week, you may notice ponds and lakes freezing over, but that doesn't mean you should trust the ice to be safe.
“Reach, throw, go,” are the steps New Britain Fire Captain Ricardo Mickens says are key in ice rescues. But first and foremost, he says to contact 911. “Get the ball rolling,” Mickens said, “because one of the biggest mistakes people make is delay it and try to do it themselves.”
Ice fishing, skating or hockey all sound fun, but if you're not careful, these activities can turn deadly.
“Hypothermia is our biggest concern,” Mickens said, “but also you have to take consideration drowning. Because if there's a current under the water a lot of people take for granted that the water's actually moving under the ice.”
Mickens says there should be at least four days of freezing temperatures and 4 inches of ice for it to be safe enough to stand on. But the danger is that there's no way to tell from just looking at the ice whether that's the case.
“You really don't want to go out on ice that isn't confirmed to be safe,” he said. “Refer to your local jurisdiction and don't put yourself in harm’s way especially if it's for a fun activity."
According to its website, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection also says that if ice is under 4 inches—you should stay off. Once it reaches that thickness, it is considered safe for ice fishing or other activities on foot. But if you want to bring a snowmobile or ATV onto the ice, it must be between 5 and 7 inches thick.
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Most importantly, if you're on thin ice, don't hesitate to call for help.
“Most of the time when we do get these types of calls it’s because someone is trying to be a good Samaritan. Usually it is an animal or a pet that actually wandered into the ice,” said Mickens. “And then they become, you know, a person that’s trapped in ice because they’re heavier and they’re not really thinking through. They just see something and they want to act quickly.”
For more information on Ice Safety, click here, or for specific information about your town or city, call your local authorities.
