blake
Life Member
DNR OFFICIALS SHARE ICE SAFETY TIPS
From KMA Radio news
(Shenandoah) -- Sub-zero temperatures are gripping KMA Land and state officials remind ice enthusiasts of important guidelines. Windchills dropped to 35 degrees below zero this morning. While that conjures up images in my mind of hot chocolate and a warm bowl of chili, many outdoor enthusiasts are only encouraged to spend time on an icy playground.
We're going to have a lot of ice on area water bodies in a hurry, according to Don Priebe, retired Department of Natural Resources Game Warden and host of KMA's Saturday morning hunting and fishing show. In an interview this morning with Priebe he says while he's already been out walking on area ponds and looks forward to ice fishing, ice is never 100% safe to fish or skate on. He says always - always be careful.
Priebe says in checking the thickness of the ice, use a spud bar or a drill to measure the depth. If the ice is 1 inch deep - step back off, 2 inches to maybe 3 inches is safe to walk on, 4 inches is very safe and 5 inches will even hold a snowmobile or four wheeler. Priebe is confident ice will be safe to walk on by Tuesday. He reminds outdoors enthusiasts to look for open water in the ponds. He says with Tuesday's snowfall, the ice won't build much, due to the insulation of the snow.
Priebe urges safety tools to be used. For instance, he says an ice pick for each hand may be tied to a string and strung through coat sleeves in the fashion of child's mittens on a string. Priebe says it's a good idea to have if a person happened to fall through the ice, tools would be at their finger tips to pull themselves out of the water. He says on early ice, a person can never be too careful. Priebe reminds that if a person's clothes get wet while out in freezing temperatures, get out of the wet clothes immediately and get warm and dry. Priebe warns those who dare venture out on the ice to check the depth of the ice.
Priebe says he measured about one and a half inches of ice last weekend while deer hunting. He urges safety tools be kept on hand. For instance, he says an ice pick for each be tied to a string and strung through coat sleeves in the fashion of child's mittens on a string. Priebe says it's a good idea to have if a person happened to fall through the ice, tools would be at their finger tips to pull themselves out of the water. He says on early ice, a person can never be too careful.
Priebe reminds that if a person's clothes get wet while out in freezing temperatures, get out of the wet clothes immediately and get warm and dry. Additionally, for those ice skating on early ice - he says make sure the ice is frozen up to four or five inches and monitor the ice conditions.
<span style="color: #CC0000">"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."</span>
<span style='font-size: 17pt'>Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution</span>