Winter doesn’t have to be boring! The ice provides plenty opportunity for you to enjoy activities such as skating, snowmobiling, and ice fishing. But the risk of plunging into icy water can be severe and often overlooked. Without proper protection from the elements, many icy adventures could end in disaster. Safety ice picks provide you with protection, giving you the confidence and freedom to explore or enjoy a new winter hobby.
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- 1. Basic Ice Safety for Winter Activities
- 2. Ice Thickness Safety and Colour
- 3. How To Self-Rescue with Ice Picks from Open Water
- 4. Reducing the Risk of Hypothermia
- 5. Ice Safety Picks Make Ice Activities Easier, Safer and More Fun!
- Best Ice Picks for Winter Survival
- A Final Thought as to Why You Need Safety Ice Picks
1. Basic Ice Safety for Winter Activities
As with anything, precautions must be taken before taking on any ice activities.
Ice Safety Tips for Winter Sports and Recreation
Rivers and narrows between lakes (moving water below) often have thinner ice, so be extra cautious there. With a thermal protection buoyant suit or life jacket, you increase your chances of survival should you go through the ice.
You should also carry ice safety gear, like safety ice picks, a rope and a small personal safety kit. Do not forget that alcohol impairs judgment and coordination and increases the risk of hypothermia, so drink responsibly.
If you must drive on the ice, make sure you have an escape plan – unlock doors and open windows, and do not wear a lifejacket while in your vehicle. Lastly, always supervise children playing on or near ice.
2. Ice Thickness Safety and Colour
No ice is guaranteed safe! Know that ice does not thicken uniformly – always use a tape measure and measure thickness at multiple points. Here is an overview of how thick ice should be for ice fishing and winter sports.
Ice colour is just as important as thickness. The colour is a key indicator of its strength and breadth, making it vital for you what each colour means.
Be mindful of these ice colours when exploring – safety first!
3. How To Self-Rescue with Ice Picks from Open Water
The last thing you want to do is panic when entering icy water, which is easier said than done.
4. Reducing the Risk of Hypothermia
For hypothermia prevention, you must understand what happens to the human body when immersed in cold water. Developed by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht is the ‘1-10-1 Principle’ of cold water immersion. The phases are as follows:
Stages of Hypothermia
You DO NOT want to end up with hypothermia, but it can happen if your exposure to the cold is too long. To avoid it, get out of the cold water and dry up as fast as possible. Seek warm shelter immediately to warm up, and if remote, get a fire going ASAP. If you start to experience any of the symptoms of hypothermia (dizziness, shivering, confusion, etc.), immediately call 911 for medical help. Here’s how to identify hypothermia signs:
Mild Hypothermia: a temperature range of 90 – 95 degrees Fahrenheit
Moderate Hypothermia: a temperature range of 82 – 90 degrees Fahrenheit
Severe Hypothermia: a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit and lower
5. Ice Safety Picks Make Ice Activities Easier, Safer and More Fun!
Safety ice picks are essential for any ice activity ranging from skating to snowmobiling. They provide an extra layer of safety and peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your time on the ice. For quick and easy access, safety ice picks should always be worn around your neck.
Best Ice Picks for Winter Survival
Due to product shortages, it was difficult to find ice picks, let alone retractable ones. By some miracle, we finally found some non-retractable safety ice picks, pictured above in the post. They are handcrafted locally and are not available online.
Unfortunately, these ice safety picks are non-retractable, but at the end of the day, something is always better than nothing. We crossed this bridge in our Introduction to Snowmobiling post, where we found ice fishing safety picks from Eagle Claw.
Eagle Claw is a reputable fishing company, and these ice fishing picks have good reviews. In full disclosure, it is one of the few times we may recommend something we do not own ourselves. You can also check your local sporting goods stores, and hopefully, with a little luck, they might have a retractable ice pick in stock.
When shopping for safety ice picks, look for retractable sheaths around the points to avoid accidentally poking yourself or others. Furthermore, the ice safety picks should be durable with a quality, buoyant lanyard to keep them attached.
A Final Thought as to Why You Need Safety Ice Picks
Ice activities are a fantastic way to experience winter and keep those dreaded winter blues at bay, but keeping safe is paramount. Ice safety picks provide an affordable and effective way to keep yourself and your family safe on icy adventures. With adequate protection and ice rescue tools, you can take your winter activities to a new level of thrilling exploration.
QUESTION: Do you wear safety ice picks? If so, which ones work best for you?
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I like this because it strikes the perfect balance between excitement and caution. It encourages winter fun while emphasizing the importance of safety, making it both inspiring and responsible.
Thank you so much for your comment!! We try to stress that the outdoors do not need to be feared. With a little bit of prep and skill you can enjoy all kinds of amazing winter activities. Winter can be very long with nothing to do!
I live for n Florida but if I ever move back up north I’ll definitely be getting one!
Florida is such a beautiful state, it’s hard to leave the warmth for the icy cold.
This is some great information that I hope I will never ever need!
I’m with you on that! I’ve seen people breakthorugh and it’s not pretty. Thank you for your comment!
I’d never thought about the importance of safety ice picks before today. Proof, once again, that such a small object is in fact an essential item that everyone should have if they’re planning an activity on the ice. An important, interesting and helpful article. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for explaining why an ice pick is needed for safety. I really feel this post is about saving lives. Living up north, it’s essential to know how to read the ice. Thank you!