A Lifeguard’s advice: Ice Water Escape

Ned Stark, “Winter is coming.” Aye, well said Eddard. Truth is though, in Britain a good amount of deaths in our countryside and inner cities, after a freeze, are due to falling through Ice. So, I’d be doing winter a disservice if I didn’t drop a knowledge bomb on you.

Okay, scenario time: You’ve just fallen through ice.

1- Brace yourself, as soon as you feel it happen. BRACE! The effect of freezing water is to make you gasp. If your head is submerged, the gasp reflex will immediately be followed by a strong urge to breathe in. Think, you’re under water. Do not breathe it.

2- Understand Shock. Shock is the loss of control of your bodily functions. 3 mins, on average, until it wears off. As your body adjusts to the constant pain of swimming in freezing temperature, you must develop calm. Calm is your friend.

Top tip: Remove heavy things like a bag or… Well skis. Don’t drown against your own weight.

3- Focus on your escape, Ice is extremely unlikely to refreeze on top of you. Not to add more stress to you but you’re working against the clock now. “Hypothermia is coming.”- Ned Stark

Technique Time: To escape from the water on to an icy surface, one must channel their inner seal. Cute. Kick your legs as hard as you can and land your elbows on to the ice. From here, launch your torso on to a solid piece of ice. From there- worm your way out of the water.

4- Roll with it! DO NOT STAND UP! Roll like a sausage to solid footing. Once stable retrace your steps, but your legs may not want to play ball- thus prepare yourself for an ungraceful crawl to safety.

5- Lose the wet clothes and get warm. Remember; never be too far from civilisation when dealing with ice.

This is pretty basic on my part, but I feel it’s simple but effective knowledge to have. If this happens you’ll be fighting shock and the early onset of Hypothermia as you self-rescue, not easy. I hope this common sense helps, because well:

“Winter is here.”