Public Safety Guidelines for Ice Activities and Events

homeanimated.gif (20220 bytes)

Developed for Winter Olympic Games and by State Conservation Departments.  Your ice conditions may require more conservative guidelines.  No ice can be 100% safe.  S.T.F.D is not responsible for any damages or injury resulting from the following information.
  • Do not go out onto the ice alone.  Let someone know where you're going and when you plan to return.
  • Wear proper clothing.  Items which provide thermal protection AND flotation are available for active sports like skiing and snowmobiling and inactive sports like ice fishing.
  • Carry ice picks and a length of rope with you.
  • Beware of shallow areas where springs might carry warm water to the surface to form thin spots.
  • Use caution near the shoreline - water level drops may occur close to shore, and ice may not be supported by water underneath.
  • When operating vehicles on ice, keep windows and doors open.  Remember that most insurance companies DO NOT cover vehicles while on the ice.
  • Do not follow other vehicles closely.  The weight creates waves in the ice that may cause breaks.
  • Do not operate a vehicle at speeds between 15-25 mph - go slower or faster.   Between 15 and 25 mph, a vehicle causes the ice to move at it's resonant frequency which may cause the ice to shift and fail.
  • Travel slowly at night, so as not to overrun your headlights.  Watch out for and avoid ice heaves.
  • Heavier loads,such as trucks, should be separated by at least 100 feet.
  • When parking long term, measure deflection using the pilot hole - water method.  If the rate of change does not decrease after 30 minutes, move or decrease the load.
  • Cracks on the ice are common, due to thermal contraction. Dry cracks, those that do not go through to the water, can be ignored.  Wet cracks, however, indicate that the ice should be twice as thick as clear ice to carry the same load.
  • Wet cracks should be crossed with a vehicle at a 90 degree angle.  If it is necessary to drive parallel to a wet crack, keep at least 30 feet away from it.
  • If a plowed course is planned, keep snow piles as wide and low as possible, and parallel to wind direction.  It is best to use a snow blower.
  • In places where crowds will congregate, drill a hole and monitor the water level.   Pilot holes should be drilled approximately every 30 feet.  If the water spills over onto the  top of the ice surface, disperse the crowd.
  • A large temperature  fluctuation of (+ or - 30 degrees) requires people to stay off the ice for at least 24 hours.