Medicine Hat emergency services warn residents about walking on ice-covered water bodies as cooler weather settles in

Wearing a personal flotation device, telling people on shore or at home how long you plan on being on the ice for fishing is also advised.

Lieutenant Patrick Jerome with the Medicine Hat Fire Department explains what to do if you do fall through the ice.

“In case you do fall through the ice, we like to educate people on the one-ten-one rule, where you have one minute to get your breathing under control if you do fall through the ice,” Jerome said.

“So control your breathing. You have one minute.”

After that, there will be some time where someone who falls through the ice will have movement, Jerome said.

“Then you’ll have about 10 minutes to have meaningful movement before you start losing control of your extremities your hands your arms,” he said.

“Then you have one hour when you are going to be in hypothermic condition and then you just have to stay on top of the ice as much as possible. So wear proper a PFD so we can get you out and then we can get you warmed up and hopefully survive.”

There will be signs posted at a number of the ponds in the city advising if it is safe to go on the ice, Jerome added.

He advised Hatters to also follow the local rules and look at the weather conditions.

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat emergency services warn residents about walking on ice-covered water bodies as cooler weather settles in

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