Kevin Laliberte
Editor, Smoky River Express

The much anticipated arrival of milder spring-like weather to the region is coinciding with a reminder from emergency response officials about the potential dangers of thin ice. Ian Fox, director of protective services for the Municipal District of Smoky River says it’s important for all residents in the region to be cognizant of the hidden dangers which thin ice present at this time of the year. That holds especially true for individuals who ice fish, quad or snowmobile. “A minimum ice depth of two inches is recommended to hold the weight of an average size individual. That depth increased to four inches for a person ice fishing and five inches for a snowmobiler.” The key, he adds, is to remember that spring ice can be extremely deceptive in nature. “Spring is a dangerous time as the ice will melt away from the shore line quicker, leading to some false misconceptions. A lot of people falsely belief that once they get past the thin ice at the shore the ice further out will be much thicker and stronger,” Fox explains. It’s a cold, hard risk which results in numerous cases of individuals falling through the ice each year in this province, many of whom experience severe hypothermia, and in some cases death. “The survival time in water at less than five degrees Celsius is between 20 and 30 minutes depending on the individual and clothing,” Fox points out. “That’s survival time not the actual time before hypothermia and other medically debilitating effects set in. That time is approximately five minutes.” In spring, a 40 centimetre thick sheet of ice, which could once support a truck, may crumble under the weight of a child. That’s because when water freezes, minerals in the water make vertical veins in the ice. These veins melt faster than the rest of the ice (called candling); causing vertical channels and the ice to weaken along those channels. This ice may collapse suddenly and without warning. Barbara Kusyanto, chief administrative officer with the Lifesaving Society, Canada’s lifeguarding experts, points out that once ice starts to rot (or melt), the thickness of ice cannot be used to determine if is safe. “Most Albertans are aware of the risks of thin ice. Unfortunately, very few are aware of the risks of rotten ice”, says. Other factors affecting spring ice safety: . Beware; ice can erode from the bottom up, with no obvious warning signs on top. . Melting upstream can create run-off that weakens river ice. . Ice near shore will melt more quickly. . Saline water run-off from roads and melting snow dumps can create “hot spots” that weaken the ice. Fox says fire department’s in the region maintain ice rescue suits and are properly trained in ice rescue situations. He encourages people considering going out on the ice at this time of year to call 911 rather than put themselves in harm’s way. “This includes anyone heading on to dugouts to retrieve children or pets. If you feel you must try, call 911 first, then head out as we may be there in time to save you as well. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the rescue portion of the region’s fire department training, including high angle, confined space, low slope and ice, is encouraged to contact their local fire department.

Copyright © 2002 Smoky River Express. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster