The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.
Published January 14, 2014
Highway Patrol addresses cold weather water safety
JEFFERSON CITY - Colonel Ron Replogle, superintendent of the Missouri State
Highway Patrol, urges everyone to be especially careful and aware around the
state's many bodies of water during the cold weather months.
A frozen body of water may look safe but looks can be deceiving.
Ice Safety
Many cold weather anglers use lakes or ponds for winter recreational activities.
Youngsters are easily attracted to ice covered private ponds for skating and
playing. Theoretically, the only "safe" ice is the ice at a skating rink. Ice
forming on lakes, rivers, and ponds place a person at much greater risk due to
natural variables.
“It's impossible to judge the strength of ice by its appearance or daily
temperature, Replogle said. “The recent temperature fluctuations from
record-breaking, below zero temperatures to the upper 40s, will greatly affect
the construction of ice.
Here are a few guidelines for use by winter recreation enthusiasts:
* Wait to walk out on the ice until there are at least four inches of clear,
solid ice.
* Measure ice thickness in several locations, starting in areas where you know
the water is shallow. If the ice thickness is less than three inches, it is best
to stay off the ice. Also, there is clear ice and white ice. White ice has air
or snow within it and is weaker. This ice should be considered suspect for
recreational use.
* Stay off river ice. River currents quickly change ice thickness overnight or
between different parts of the river. Currents can slow ice formation and cause
existing ice to be much more fragile.
* Never go onto ice alone. A buddy may be able to rescue you or go for help if
you get into trouble. A companion can attempt a rescue by extending a pole or
branch to the victim or throwing a rope or knotted clothing. Remember: If the
ice could not support their weight, it will not support your weight.
* Wear a life jacket. Life vests or float coats provide excellent flotation and
protection from hypothermia. Wearing layered winter clothes can increase your
chances of survival if you do go through the ice.
* Take safety equipment with you. Include ice picks, ice staff, rope, and a
small personal safety kit—a pocketknife, whistle, screwdrivers with string, and
cell phone—in your pocket.
* Avoid driving on ice. It is very difficult to see open holes in the ice and
increases your chances of ending up in the water unexpectedly.
Always supervise children playing on or near ice.
Make sure they understand the dangers of being on the ice and insist that they
wear a lifejacket/Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or thermal protection buoyant
suit. Never let them play on ponds or lakes unattended. Adults should educate
children about the dangers of playing on ice.
Many ice victims start out as would-be rescuers. To prevent this from happening,
do not go onto the ice to rescue another person or retrieve a pet.
To aid someone who has fallen through the ice the first step should be calling
for emergency services.
A local fire department should have the quickest response time, the proper
equipment, and have trained to handle ice emergencies.
Rather than going onto the ice to attempt rescuing someone, you should extend a
ladder, pole, or rope to a victim along with something that will float.
If you find yourself in the position of needing to be rescued, there are
techniques that should be followed for self rescue.
1. Try not to panic.
2. Face the direction you came from and spread your arms out on the unbroken
ice.
3. Kick your feet and try to pull yourself onto the ice.
4. Once out of the water, do not attempt to stand. Lying on the ice keeps your
weight distributed.
5. Roll away from the hole then crawl across the ice back to solid land.
Adults should never mix alcohol and winter ice recreational activities. Alcohol
impairs your judgment and speeds up the development of hypothermia.
Dock Safety
Dock owners should keep safety in mind, also. Ice and heavy snow combinations
have caused major damage to boat docks in the past. The extra weight of snow and
ice can cause such structures to collapse.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to caution dock owners about
attempting to remove snow and ice from their docks during inclement weather.
“It is very easy to end up in the water accidentally,” said Replogle. “Due to
the extreme cold water, hypothermia can set in quickly and render a person
helpless in the water.”
If dock owners insist on being on docks during icy conditions, life jackets
should always be worn. Use the buddy system to make sure that someone is there
to assist you if you end up in the water.
Remember that damaged electric wires around docks should be treated as if they
are live. Any boats operating in areas of where major dock damage has occurred
are encouraged to operate at no wake idle speed, so as to prevent further damage
to docks already under the added stress off heavy snow and ice.
Water Safety
Cold shock occurs when the body is suddenly immersed in cold water. Once the
trunk of the body goes under, the blood vessels will constrict in order to
conserve core body heat.
This response, in turn, can cause a sudden increase in heart rate and blood
pressure - in some cases resulting in cardiac arrest. Cold shock also can cause
involuntary gasping reflex.
When the body hits the water, cold shock can cause the overboard boater to gasp
for air, but inhale water which causes the boater to drown.
Hypothermia is also a concern. The body loses heat 25 times faster in water than
in the air.
Lifejacket use becomes even more important in cold water because hypothermia can
quickly rob the body of the ability to perform the most basic tasks and drowning
is always a concern.
“If you wind up taking an unexpected plunge into cold water, it is vital to get
out of the water and into dry clothes as soon as possible,” Replogle said. “If
dry clothes are not an option leave the wet ones on. Even wet clothes will offer
some insulation and trap body heat.”
A warm drink can be given to someone suffering from hypothermia as long as they
are conscious. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided. Drinks with sugars for
quick energy are preferable.
Hypothermia can be deadly even if you are wearing a PFD, so it is important to
never go boating alone in the winter.
“If no one knows you are in trouble, no one can help,” said Replogle.
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