By Alicia Draus

Community reminded to stay away from thin ice

Feb 21, 2017 | 3:26 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Communities around Alberta are warning of the dangers of ice after two young boys in Airdrie fell through ice near their home. A six-year-old boy was airlifted to hospital but didn’t survive. His older brother was taken to hospital by ambulance in stable condition.

Each year, the Medicine Hat Fire Department responds to about 20 calls related to people on ice.

“With moving water, it’s really hazardous, because with moving water it can erode the ice from underneath, and it can vary in thickness from day to day,” said Scott Berg with the Fire Department.

While moving water can pose the most danger, stagnant water isn’t without its dangers.

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“Rotten ice, or ice that’s near the edges or near objects in the water can get thinner,” said Berg. “Anything where the water is touch rock or land, it gets really thin and melts around those objects.”

Colour of ice can be one tell sign of thickness. According to Berg, clear or black ice is usually the thickest. White or opaque ice is weaker, while a grey and white mix is signs of weak ice.

“To support one person you would want four inches, to support a group of people or a small car you want eight inches, to a medium size truck would be 12 to 15 inches,” said Berg, adding that anything more will require the ice to be even thicker.

In case of emergencies, there are things people can do. Experts say the best piece of advice is to remain calm.

“If you’re falling into water and you want to make sure you don’t take that big gasp of air as your head goes underwater, because that’s when drowning can occur,” said Paul Carolan with Southeast Alberta Search and Rescue. “Once you can get your breathing under control, which is what we want to see happen in that first minute, you have ten minutes (for) meaningful movement.”

Carolan added that during that ten minutes, people should be calling for help. He said that if you’re unable to get yourself out in that time, you should use your clothes to freeze yourself to the ice and keep your head out of water.

Most people will have an hour before hypothermia sets in.

“That hour if you get yourself on top of the ice and not underneath it, we have the best chance of saving you,” said Carolan.

Once out of the ice, the best thing is to warm up gradually by getting out of wet clothes and wrapping yourself in a blanket. The worst thing is jumping into a hot shower or bath because it can cause shock and further complications.

Temperatures are expected to drop again this week, but it doesn’t mean the ice will freeze enough to be safe. Berg said that people should always be checking the thickness before going out and if in doubt, stay off the ice.