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Cold & Freezing Life-saving
Ice Safety & Falling Through
No ice is guaranteed safe. If you go in, the cold-shock and self-rescue steps matter most.
What to do
- 1Avoid ice near moving water, inlets, and pressure cracks; clear blue ice is stronger than white/slushy ice.
- 2If you fall through: don't panic — control your breathing through the first cold-shock minute.
- 3Turn back toward the direction you came (known-good ice), kick your legs flat, and pull yourself out.
- 4Roll away from the hole — don't stand — to spread your weight, then crawl to shore.
- 5Get to warmth fast and treat for hypothermia.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going onto unknown ice alone
- Standing up right after self-rescue
- Walking near moving-water edges
Good to know
- Carry ice picks in winter — they give you grip to claw out of the water.
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