ICE SAFETY EDUCATION
* Mascot Skipper Always Says STAY SAFE !
"When you See Ice, Think Twice about going onto the ice!"
ASK YOURSELF these questions first before even considering going on ice.
Have the temperatures been fluctuating? Is it early in the season or near Spring?
Is there snow on the ice? How deep is the water and how large is the area?
Is the ice rippled, flowing water, cracks, holes, or water at the shores edge?
Are there chemicals that run-off into the lake, farmland nearby?
fresh or saltwater? is the water spring-fed? Has the ice thawed and refrozen?
Is the color brown, dirty from leaves resurfacing thawing?
Is it worth the risk to go out on the ice ?
Strongly consider the strength of the ice is not the same everywhere even on the same frozen body of water!
No ice is completely safe and can suddenly become very dangerous!
See Ice,Think Twice
Have the temperatures been fluctuating? Is it early in the season or near Spring?
Is there snow on the ice? How deep is the water and how large is the area?
Is the ice rippled, flowing water, cracks, holes, or water at the shores edge?
Are there chemicals that run-off into the lake, farmland nearby?
fresh or saltwater? is the water spring-fed? Has the ice thawed and refrozen?
Is the color brown, dirty from leaves resurfacing thawing?
Is it worth the risk to go out on the ice ?
Strongly consider the strength of the ice is not the same everywhere even on the same frozen body of water!
No ice is completely safe and can suddenly become very dangerous!
See Ice,Think Twice
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The SKiPPER Steps to take if you fall through thin ice into water...
"S "stay calm "K" kick "P" pull "R" roll * IMPORTANT* Stay Calm-don't panic. Kick feet hard like a swimmer making yourself horizontal to the water and the ice . Now, prop elbows up onto the ice edge and continue kicking and then pull with arms out, kick and pull, kick and pull till out of the water. Once out and on the ice DO NOT STAND! Instead,roll on the ice all the way to the safety of the shore. Immediately tell an adult you fell into cold water. (Navy Seal based steps) 
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ICY INFORMATION: Think Twice before going out on that ice...
Ice on lakes, rivers, and ponds can be very inconsistent; therefore, the ice is
Extremely Dangerous. When a lake is spring fed there may be currents (flowing water under the developing ice from natural water moving underneath), causing the forming ice to be unpredictable in how it develops. This makes it weak to hold weight. Conversely,stronger ice will be blue and clear and will not look visibly cloudy in the layers. Ice is likely to be thicker nearer to the shore, shallow area, than over the deep areas of the water.
When snow is atop the ice, do not feel secure that the ice under is fully frozen!
Snow is an insulator and causes the ice formation to be slow forming underneath.Ice thickness is not always an indicator that the ice is not dangerous.Going on the ice may prove unwise and when the ice gives,one may indeed be in a life or death situation. STAY OFF THE ICE!
Extremely Dangerous. When a lake is spring fed there may be currents (flowing water under the developing ice from natural water moving underneath), causing the forming ice to be unpredictable in how it develops. This makes it weak to hold weight. Conversely,stronger ice will be blue and clear and will not look visibly cloudy in the layers. Ice is likely to be thicker nearer to the shore, shallow area, than over the deep areas of the water.
When snow is atop the ice, do not feel secure that the ice under is fully frozen!
Snow is an insulator and causes the ice formation to be slow forming underneath.Ice thickness is not always an indicator that the ice is not dangerous.Going on the ice may prove unwise and when the ice gives,one may indeed be in a life or death situation. STAY OFF THE ICE!
What Does the Ice Color Mean (general guideline)
White /Opaque- Saturated with water, snow on top, weak, porous, air pockets formed Blue /Clear-Dense, strong, "safest" type ice.
Black/light gray- melting ,can occur even when air temp is below 32 degrees.Ice is weak.
Mottled/Slush- aka "rotten ice" thawing, slushy and deceptive!
White /Opaque- Saturated with water, snow on top, weak, porous, air pockets formed Blue /Clear-Dense, strong, "safest" type ice.
Black/light gray- melting ,can occur even when air temp is below 32 degrees.Ice is weak.
Mottled/Slush- aka "rotten ice" thawing, slushy and deceptive!
