Manitoba man drowns on Christmas Eve while clearing snow from pond: What to know about ice safety in winter
The 58-year-old's skid-steer loader fell through the ice on a pond in a rural community southeast of Winnipeg.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.
A Manitoba man drowned while using a skid-steer loader to clear snow from a pond on his property on Tuesday. The 58-year-old was inside the machine on Christmas Eve when it broke through the ice and sank in Ste. Anne, a rural community southeast of Winnipeg.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m., and firefighters as well as emergency divers from the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART) spent three hours trying to recover the man. A diver from the non-profit dedicated to recovering drowning victims found the skid-steer upright at the bottom of the pond, with the door opened inward and no one inside.
The man was found roughly 10 metres from the machine later that afternoon. Approximately 18 emergency-response personnel took part in the search, CBC News reported.
In light of the man's death, dive team coordinator and HEART vice-president Paul Maendel warned people to be very careful if they're driving vehicles on ice.
"What you need to be aware of is the ice condition and it can be different under the layer of snow," Meandel told CBC News. "It can change from one day to another, especially with the milder weather."
Is it safe to be on ice-covered water?
When it comes to being on frozen bodies of water, there's no such thing as ice that's 100 per cent safe, according to the Canadian Red Cross. However, there are proper precautions you can take to ensure you don't put yourself in a dangerous situation — whether you're working or playing. Falling through the ice can lead to injuries from the fall, hypothermia or drowning.
Certain factors like colour, location and weather are important to understand when you're heading outside to be on ice-covered water, as well as sudden changes in conditions. Moreover, you need to know the potential dangers of being on or around ice-covered water, as well as what you should do in an emergency.
How do I measure ice to ensure it's safe to be on?
The best way to measure safety on ice is to determine it's thickness, and this should be done each time you plan to head out. However, it's important to remember ice thickness won't be uniform across most bodies of water.
It's best to never test ice alone — always bring a buddy. To measure the thickness of ice, you can create a small hole with an axe, hatchet, ice auger or spud bar. Continue to check the thickness around the body of water.
The required thickness of ice will increase depending on the weight of the load. While a single person on foot can walk or skate on ice that's slightly thinner, a larger and heavier machine will need ice that's thick enough to support the total weight, measured in gross vehicle weight (GVW).
In general, ice should be at least 15 cm (six inches) thick for a single person to safely walk or skate on. That increases to 20 cm (eight inches) for a group of skaters, and 25 cm (10 inches) for snowmobiles, per the Canadian Red Cross. You'll need more than 30 cm in thickness when it comes to most light vehicles, according to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
How can I safely bring a vehicle out onto ice?
When planning to head out onto the ice to work, you shouldn't step out unless you know your numbers, according to Work Safe Alberta's guide. These numbers include things like temperature, your GVW and other necessary information if you're working with other people or vehicles:
The day's temperature and wind chill
Total weight of the vehicle, cargo, fuel and people, also called gross vehicle weight or GVW
The minimum ice thickness for this GVW
The maximum load allowed on an ice cover
The maximum drive speed allowed
The minimum distance needed between vehicles
The maximum parking or stationary time allowed on the ice cover
Emergency contact numbers
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), ice bends whenever a load is placed on top of it. Overloading can lead to the ice cracking, which can then lead to a collapse.
Employment and Social Development Canada noted some of the best ways to prevent accidents is to avoid working alone. You should also dress properly — with personal protective equipment and warm clothing — as well as identify potential hazards.
What does ice look like when it's safe to be on?
It's important to also conduct a visual assessment when you plan to head out onto ice. On top of looking for any cracks, water flow or soft ice, it's a good idea to understand what the different colours of ice mean:
Dull grey ice is unsafe: This colour means water is present and that it won't support much weight. It's more common in the spring and in fast-moving water during the winter.
White opaque ice or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice: This type of ice can cover up danger, potentially if it has formed on top of ice that hasn't been completely frozen.
Blue ice is the strongest and safest: This ice forms below negative eight degrees Celsius and deepens in colour since water is naturally turquoise blue.
What should I do in an emergency?
If you're planning to spend time out on the ice, it's a good idea to also plan for the worst-case scenario and have an emergency plan. That includes prepping for spending time outside in cold weather by wearing warm clothing and taking breaks to keep warm.
How to self-rescue in freezing water
In the event that you fall through the ice, the first things you need to do are relax, catch your breath and call for help. Don't worry, you will have around 10 minutes to get out of the water, according to Work Safe Alberta's guide. But after that time frame, your muscles won't have strength and you will lose consciousness.
To start a self-rescue, you want to avoid trying to climb back out of where you fell in. That's because the ice in this area will be too weak. Instead, keep your hands and arms on the ice while kicking your feet to get into a horizontal position parallel to the surface of the ice.
Once you're horizontal, you should continue kicking your feet while pulling with your hands to draw yourself up onto the ice. Once you're out of the water, you don't want to stand up. Instead, crawl on your stomach or roll away from the area with your limbs spread out to evenly distribute your body weight.
How to save someone from freezing water
Rescuing another person after they've fallen through ice can be dangerous, and you want to avoid putting yourself or other people in trouble. For starters, you should call for help, whether that's immediate assistance from first responders or support from bystanders.
Then, see if you can reach the person with a long pole or branch. Ensure when you're extending the item to the person that you're also lying down parallel with the ground.
If you need to go onto the ice, make sure you wear a PFD or lifejacket. Moreover, bring a long pole or branch to test the ice in front of where you're moving, as well as something like a pole or weighted rope to throw to the person.
When you're near the broken ice, lie down to evenly distribute your weight and slowly crawl toward the hole. Then, throw the object (pole, weighted rope or other item) to the person and have them kick while you pull them to safety.
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