A
ANAD
C

OF
U
UREA
>>
John Blaicher, an ice safety expert and
consultant for the Insurance Bureau of
B
Canada, casts a cold eye on the many myths
around ice safety.
I
NSURANCE
One of them is the belief that simply enough
HE
. T cold weather ensures solid, thick, safe ice. He
says temperature fluctuations, wind, a layer
LAICHER
B
of snow, currents underneath and fluctuating
water levels can all weaken ice. He notes ice
J
OHN

OF
doesn’t form in a uniform thickness everywhere

IS
T
O
across a body of water either – another common
P
HO
misconception. It can be a solid 20 centimetres
in one spot, and dangerously thin in another.
“Snow helps ice form quickly” is another false
notion. Snow insulates ice and in some instances,
a snowfall warms and melts existing ice.
Do you think all thick ice is strong? Think
again, advises Blaicher. Ice containing layers of
snow or water, spring ice, or ice that has thawed
and frozen several times are all often weak.
Don’t trust them.
The strongest ice is clear black, blue or
ICE-
green. That’s no myth. The Lifesaving Society
recommends a minimum thickness of 10 centi-
metres (four inches) of new, clear ice for a single
person, whether on foot, ice fishing, or cross-
country skiing.
SAFETY
Here’s another misconception: if you’re a
strong swimmer you are better prepared to

rescue yourself should you fall through. Not
true. “Swimming skills are only a small part of an
ice-related rescue,” says Blaicher.
myths and how to save yourself
Self-rescue practices
TIM ALLARD “Drowning is what kills most people who fall
into cold water, not hypothermia, because the
victim can’t keep his or her head above water,”
says Blaicher.
“In the first minute of the crisis, the goal is
to get your breathing under control as the body
experiences cold shock.” A plunge into frigid
water throws normal breathing out of kilter;
it starts with a large involuntary gasp. Before
attempting to get out, try to stay calm enough to
control your breathing; then call for help.
But remember, when you’re in the water the
Every year on average more than 30 Canadians die in clock is ticking. “In ice-cold water, the average
ice-related incidents – often when they fall through thin person has up to 60 minutes of survival time
ice. If your winter activities take you onto frozen waters, before the heart stops or unconsciousness
it’s time to get up to speed on common myths about what sets in,” says Blaicher, who cautions that many
makes ice safe or dangerous. And it would be handy to factors can cut that 60-minute estimate.
know how to rescue yourself if you do go through. “Once breathing is under control, the next
10 minutes are critical to use your big motor
muscles and try to get out of the water. In cold
water the brain sends signals to redirect blood
26 OTTAWA >> WINTER 2007/2008 www.OttawaOutdoors.ca
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