Outdoor News Daily

The extended cold temperatures at Trinidad Lake State Park have frozen over the lake with ice that’s five to six inches thick. As a general rule, four inches of ice is considered acceptable for ice fishing and ice-skating.

Ice thickness and ice conditions, however, can be affected by several factors including underwater currents, water level fluctuations, weather, moving water, and objects protruding through the ice. If you are considering venturing out on the ice, it is important to become familiar with ice safety to help reduce the risk of making a mistake that could be fatal.

Ice is never totally safe! The only absolute in ice safety is to stay off the ice. However, taking certain precautions can reduce the risk when you venture out onto the ice.

Act under the assumptions that: ice is always unsafe, that unsafe ice conditions may occur anywhere, that ice thickness and quality vary from place to place and that ice conditions are constantly changing throughout the day.

Some signs of unsafe ice include: ice of different colors, water on top of the ice, cracks, pressure ridges, open water, snow cover, and bubbles in the ice.

The best advice is to stay off the ice when there is any question about ice conditions and ice thickness. If you do venture onto the ice, remember the following safety tips:

* Never go onto the ice alone. A buddy may be able to call for help if you fall in. Never attempt to walk out onto the ice to rescue someone because you might also fall through the ice.

* Always wear a life jacket. Wear a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) over winter clothing. Life jackets can provide excellent flotation and protection from hypothermia.

* Assemble a personal safety kit. Always wear a safety kit on your body when going out onto the ice. Safety kits should include an ice awl, rope, throw devices (a flotation cushion), and a whistle to call for help.

* Always keep your pets on a leash. Never allow your dog to run out onto the ice and never walk your dog near a frozen lake or pond without a leash. If your dog falls through the ice, do not attempt a rescue. Go for help!

* Reach-Throw-Go. If you cannot “reach” the person from shore, “throw” them a flotation device or a rope. If you still can’t help the person, quickly “go” for help.

If you fall through the ice, don’t panic. Try to get your arms onto the ice and kick as hard as you can with your feet to help lift you onto the ice, and then roll to safety. If you can’t get out of the cold water by yourself, take appropriate actions to extend your survival time while waiting to be rescued:

Don’t panic. Try to remain calm to conserve as much energy as possible.

Do not swim. Swimming will cause your body to lose heat much faster than if you stay as still as possible.

Act slowly and deliberately to conserve heat. Expect a progressive decrease in your strength and ability to move. Make the harder maneuvers at the beginning while you can.

Keep your upper body above water. Keep your head and upper body as far out of the water as possible.

It is important to keep in mind that no one can guarantee when and if the ice is safe. It is ultimately up to you to make that decision.

With proper preparations and appropriate caution, winter can be a great time to enjoy the park. For more information on passes, winter recreation, ice safety, and ice conditions and thickness, please call Trinidad Lake State Park at (719) 846-6951. The latest ice conditions are also posted weekly on the web at http://www.colorado.gov/parks/trinidadlake.

Throughout 2009, Colorado State Parks is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a leader in providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, protecting the state’s favorite landscapes, teaching generations about nature and partnering with communities.

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