RCMP Warns: Ice still too thin to walk on
As winter slowly approaches, Saskatchewan RCMP are reminding residents to stay off lakes, rivers, sloughs, ponds and dugouts until ice conditions are safe.
Corporal Jamie Diemert, coordinator of the Saskatchewan RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT), said the ice forming this time of year is thin and dangerous.
“Winter is coming very slowly this year,” Diemert said. “Lakes and other bodies of water are freezing on the surface, but there is still warm water below. This creates weak ice that can break under the weight of a single person. Please take ice safety very seriously. If you fall in, it is very difficult to get out while the ice is breaking around you. There is a high risk of drowning.”
Diemert offered these safety tips:
Avoid early-season ice. Do not walk, play, work, or drive on ice that has not fully formed.
Watch for white or snow ice. This type of ice is weak because it traps air and snow while freezing. It often forms when temperatures hover around zero Celsius and is unsafe.
Wait for clear, strong ice. Clear blue ice is the strongest, forming only after consistently cold temperatures. Recommended minimum thicknesses from the Canadian Red Cross are:
15 cm (6 in.) for skating, walking or skiing in small groups
20 cm (8 in.) for larger groups
25 cm (10 in.) for snowmobiles or ATVs
Use safety equipment. If you must be on the ice, wear a personal flotation device (PFD) and carry self-rescue ice picks.
Know what to do if you fall in. Call for help immediately. Swim horizontally to get out, kick your legs, and crawl or roll away from the hole once out of the water.
Rescue others safely. Call 911 and help only from shore using a long pole or rope. Avoid going onto the ice yourself.
Consider other hazards. Cracks, fluctuating temperatures, moving water beneath the surface, and salt from storm sewers can all weaken ice.
The URT is a specialized unit of the Saskatchewan RCMP Operational Support Services. It assists with underwater investigations, including missing persons, evidence retrieval and search and recovery operations.