Think of the rescuers

[lew]

It's still early in the winter season and many of the lakes aren't safely frozen over yet, but all you ice fishermen are itching to get out there, and understandably so.

 

Just take into consideration though, that if you break thru the ice and can't get out, others are going to have to endanger their own lives in order to try & rescue you.

 

My brother was a volunteer fireman for many years and they were called out late one night early in the ice fishing season when someone heard screaming coming from far out on the lake. My brother & 3 other firemen who responded to the call for help had to walk out about 1/4 mile on very thin ice to try & help the fishermen. He said in many places the ice was cracking under their feet and water was seeping thru in spots, but they couldn't ignore the calls and had to continue on.

 

Eventually, after following the screams they found the spot where the men had broken thru the thin ice, and crawled the last 50 feet or so till they were able to get hold of them and pull then out. One of the fishermen was dead when they got him out of the water, but the 2nd man survived although he was in very serious shape.

 

Eventually they were able to get the 2 back into shore and the awaiting ambulance and off to the hospital. The one man was lucky and survived the ordeal, although his dear friend didn't make it.

 

One man made it, and one died, but it could have been MUCH worse had things gone terribly wrong and the 4 rescuers went into the frigid waters too, and died also.

 

I just thought I'd pass this story on to everyone incase you decide to take a chance with your own life on the ice before it's thick enough. Please just remember that if you go thru the ice and get in serious trouble, others will have to risk their own lives on the thin ice in order to save yours.

 

 

Just something to think about.

[FishFinder]

dont these rescuers have survival suits?

[Raf]

a survival suit will keep you afloat.. it will delay but not prevent hypothermia.

[BFSC Kevin]

dont these rescuers have survival suits?

 

even with a survival suit, you can only last in this kind of frigid water for so long, unless you are thinking they have some other kind of suit that i'm not so familiar/aware of. even so, they are risking their lives, to save your life, there are other dangers beside the fact of it being cold water. what if they slid under the ice?

what if someone cracked the ice and got smacked on the head and went unconscious, under the water?

there are many things that could happen that you wouldn't want to think about.

 

lew, i'm glad you made this post. thank you.

[lew]

dont these rescuers have survival suits?

 

They have them if their in a township that has the $$$$ to afford them but many small outfits don't have the funds.

[capt bruce]

Put my old buick thru the ice once , not fun (young and very very foolish). Lucky we were on the bog and only 30 feet from shore so we climbed out the windows, the roof of the car was still out of the water (slush) 30 feet is not much but walking in waste high slush made for a very cold time . Last time I ever drove out on to the ice would not want to do this on deeper lake .

[Tybo]

A float suit and a survival suit are two completely different.

 

First the price, a cheap survival suit is $2500

 

A survival suit doesn't allow water from entering the suit.

 

The ones they use in the north sea can cost up to $15.000.

[john vail]

The suits are a mute point, rescuers use a method called risk versus outcome, does the rescuer risk their live affect their families future if the risk is not worth the outcome. In our business people generally dont call us because something good has happened so training, , instinct and knowledge have to prevail, please be care and safe and dont put others in that situation if you can avoid it. l

[lunkerbasshunter]

with the warm tempertures and rain coming into southern ontario this weekend you can be sure that people will fall though the ice.

 

We are not in the north country here. a mild day like today with rain can do some serious damage to the ice. be safe!

 

cheers!

[Clampet]

I have a lot of ice experience, and I say stay off the ice this entire week-end coming.

It's too warm out, whatever ice there was a few days ago has deteriorated.

[fishing n autograph]

I have to give the Fire Fighters credit for what they do.....although we don't alway get along, i have the utmost respect for them, and we make each other's jobs a lil' easier.....

[lew]

When I made this post initially it wasn't meant to infer that the fire fighters would necessarily be the rescuers, as it could be anyone in the vicinity who could become involved. I just mentioned it because that particular rescue involved my brother who was a fireman at the time.

 

Sorry for any confusion

[Fisherman]

Excellent reminder Lew, I'm sure everyone can wait another week for the ice to harden up a bit more, heck, cut down the stuff on the "Honey Do" list first, 'cause without a "Honey" not much will get done if you don't come home again. Accidents happen and those are situations where even when everything is done right, results in something bad. Sheer stupidity on the other hand must be part of some peoples genetics.

[mistyriver1]

Great post Lew.

 

I'm dying to get out on the ice too, but with highs of 6 and 8 for the weekend with rain....Nope.