GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Coast Guard is warning that warmer temperatures forecast for this weekend could pose safety concerns on area waterways which may have frozen during the recent cold wave.
Rising temperatures will cause recently frozen waters to further melt and become weak. Ice is unpredictable and the thickness can vary, even in small areas. Water currents, particularly around narrow spots, bridges, inlets and outlets are always suspect for thin ice. Stay away from cracks, seams, pressure ridges, slushy areas and darker areas since these signify thinner ice.
In addition, people who plan to recreate on waterways should heed safety precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable outing. The Coast Guard offers these cold water and ice safety tips:
- Remember the acronym ICE, which stands for Information, Clothing and Equipment. To stay safe on the ice, get the right information about conditions and weather, wear appropriate clothing, and don’t leave home without the right equipment to stay alive.
- Always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, and dress for the lake temperature. A life jacket allows a person to float with minimum energy expenditure and allows the person to assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position (H.E.L.P.) – bringing the knees close to the chest and holding them in place by wrapping the arms around the shin portions of the legs.
- Never go out on the water alone. Use the buddy system..
- Always check and monitor the marine weather forecast before and during any trip out onto the lakes.
- Carry a registered personal locator beacon in addition to a marine radio to alert the Coast Guard and local safety agencies of potential distress. Consider a waterproof hand-held model that can be worn.
- Carry all required and recommended safety gear, such as visual distress signals and a sound-producing device. Carry your visual distress signal and whistle in the pocket of your life jacket so they’re close at hand in an emergency.
Cmdr. Max Moser, Deputy Commander of Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, in Milwaukee, urges mariners to dress for the water temperature and not the air temperature.
“Survival time is greatly diminished for someone immersed in water below 70 degrees,” said Moser. "Cold water drains a body’s heat up to 25 times faster than cold air. In addition to a life jacket, we recommend mariners wear a dry suit in a cold water environment in order to increase the chances of surviving a fall into the water.”
Hypothermia is the biggest danger after falling into the water, even if one manages to get out immediately. Hypothermia sets in quickly as the human body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees (35 degrees C).
Every minute counts in a cold water environment. Preparation may mean the difference between a life saved or a body recovered.