On Thin Ice: Learn the Dangers of a Frozen Pond or Lake

Bursts of extreme cold during the winter lead to frozen ponds and lakes. Too often, children and adults notice a frozen pond and decide to explore it. A few steps feel safe, yet the ice begins to crack and split as the walk covers more distance.

This scenario often requires emergency rescue response from our team, and, unfortunately, some rescues do not end happily. Frozen lakes and ponds in Missouri rarely freeze deep enough to support a person's weight. The region's fluctuating temperatures melt the ice, causing instability. Don't walk on thin ice. Learn about the dangers of frozen bodies of water.

Know the Two Types of Ice

Ice appears in two different colors: white or black. Many often believe that white ice is safe and stable. After all, most ice rinks are white. Unfortunately, white ice that glazes lakes and ponds is a beautiful danger.

What is Black Ice?

The term' black ice'' is a bit of a misnomer, as this ice is colorless. When ice is completely transparent, it appears to reflect the color of what is beneath it; typically, water and roads make ice appear black in hue.

Black ice varies in thickness, but transparent black ice always offers one important feature–it is water that freezes uniformly. This feature is crucial as ice used for skating, walking, or even driving must be uniform and without any weak points.

What is White Ice?

White ice is what most Missourians notice on frozen lakes and ponds. We need to be very clear: WHITE ICE IS ALWAYS HAZARDOUS. White ice looks white because it mixes with snow, creating an unstable and fragile type of ice that is never safe for walking or exploring.

Why is the Skating Rink Ice White?

The St. Louis Blues skate on white ice; every skating rink is white. Why is white ice dangerous? The answer is simple: the white ice in rinks is painted white! The ice wouldn't be so cool-looking without a layer of white paint. The white paint improves visibility.

How Thick Does Ice Need to Be to Walk On?

Ice covering local ponds and lakes will never freeze thick enough to walk on. Ice must be at least four inches thick for walking or skating safely. As the weather warms, ice melts and loses stability and thickness. In Missouri, a freezing day is often followed by a warmer day. Icy ponds and lakes that look frozen are not deep enough to support even a child's weight.

What are the First Reactions After Falling Through Ice?

Attempting to cross a frozen pond or lake that is not frozen deep enough to provide stability and support results in the ice buckling and cracking beneath the individual. Individuals fall beneath the surface as the ice breaks away, immersing in the bitter cold water.

The shock of the cold water results in the first phase of cold water immersion: shock and hyperventilation. The freezing temperature of the water elicits a gasp reflex; this is an automatic response to submersion and causes the individual to hyperventilate.

This natural response is dangerous, as the deep gasping potentially leads to water inhalation and drowning. Even when the gasp response doesn't take water into the lungs, this shock stage signals an emergency.

The Stages of Cold Water Immersion

Hyperventilation or the gasp reflexes is the first and immediate response when the body falls into icy water. Following the shock of the cold water, individuals will progress through these three other stages:

Incapacitation. The body freezes up to conserve energy. Some refer to this stage as ''swim failure,'' if the individual is not wearing a flotation device, this stage could lead to drowning.
Hypothermia. Eventually, the body's temperature falls well below normal.
Loss of consciousness. Hypothermia leads to the individual losing consciousness. Again, without a flotation device, drowning results.

Surviving Cold Water Immersion

When an individual falls through ice, panic sets in. However, it's important not to panic–survival depends on a clear mind. If no one is around to call for help, individuals can attempt to pull themselves back up using stronger ice and roll towards the shore. Rescuers advise rolling on the ice as this disburses the body weight evenly, minimizing the risk of falling through again.

After a cold water rescue, it is imperative to warm the body; emergency medical treatment might be necessary.

FAQ

What should you do if you fall overboard into cold water?

Scream for help and try to stay calm. When boating on lakes or fishing in ponds, never go alone. Always pack a cell phone and a radio; this ensures multiple options for reaching emergency responders when an accident occurs.

What happens to your body when you fall into a frozen lake?

Gasping or hyperventilation is the first response to cold water immersion. This is followed by incapacitation (exhaustion), hypothermia, and loss of consciousness.

How long can a person who has fallen through ice survive?

The CBC (in Canada) explains that individuals have 10 minutes to pull themselves out of the water before their body enters the incapacitation stage. At that point, the only hope for survival is an emergency team (or a friend who knows how to handle the rescue safely).

How cold was the water when the Titanic sank?

Most everyone has seen the movie "Titanic" or, at the very least, knows the story of the most disastrous shipwreck in history. More than 1,500 people died in the hours that followed the Titanic, hitting an iceberg and sinking. The exact death toll was 1,503 individuals–including women and children. Many died because of exposure to the freezing water temperatures of the Atlantic.

How cold was the water when the Titanic sank? The Atlantic waters were only 28 degrees Fahrenheit. To understand how the water temperature correlates to survival, use our chart (with standard Missouri winter water temperatures):

Water Temperature (Fahrenheit)	Survival Time
50 to 60 degrees	One to six hours
40 to 50 degrees	One to three hours
32.5 to 40 degrees	Half an hour to 90 minutes
Less than 32.5 degrees	15 minutes (this was the approximate survival time for Titanic passengers in the water)