INDIANAPOLIS – Thousands of Hoosiers safely enjoy fishing, skating, hiking, or just sliding around on frozen ponds and lakes every winter. However, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) warns that every year, people drown after falling through ice.
Indiana Conservation Officers remind Hoosiers to put safety first when ice fishing, ice skating, or snowmobiling. Take caution when going on frozen lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. Also, watch for others who may venture out on frozen waterways and find themselves in trouble.
Safely having fun on ice may require you to adjust from what you have done in the past. The rule of thumb is to believe all ice is too thin unless proven otherwise.
Here are a few tips to remember when considering standing on or walking on a frozen body of water:
- Assume no ice is safe ice
- Test the thickness of the ice with an ice auger. Four inches is recommended for ice fishing and five for snowmobiling
- If you don’t know the thickness of the ice, don’t go on it
- Wear a life jacket/flotation coat; if you fall through they will keep your head above water
- Carry ice picks and rope gear
- Before going on the ice, leave a note of your whereabouts with a friend or family member
- Don’t test the thickness of the ice while alone
- If you see a pet in distress, do not go after it; contact local emergency response personnel to rescue it
