What is the best way to get back onto the ice if you've fallen through thin ice with your snowmobile?

Kick your feet as hard as you can, and pull yourself up quickly with your forearms. Do not put all your weight on your elbows. If the edge breaks off, move forward to the next solid edge and try again. Crawl up onto the ice, and then crawl or roll (but don't stand—you may break through again) until you're on solid ice.
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What do you do if you fall through ice?

Reach forward onto the broken ice without pushing down; kick your legs and push your torso onto the ice flat. Once you are back on the ice, crawl on your stomach or roll away from the open area with your arms and legs spread out as far as possible to evenly distribute your weight. Do not stand up.
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How do you get out of thin ice?

What To Do If You Fall Through Thin Ice
  1. As the mercury drops, some of us in the northern latitudes will be heading out onto the ice in search of winter activity. ...
  2. Don't panic. ...
  3. Pitch heavy gear, like fishing or hunting gear or skis. ...
  4. Leave your clothes on. ...
  5. Turn around. ...
  6. Place both hands on the ice's surface. ...
  7. Kick your legs.
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When riding a snowmobile on ice what should you do to stop safely?

Ice
  1. Ice presents many of the same handling problems as riding on pavement. Also, spins are common, and fast stops are impossible.
  2. Maintain a slow, steady speed. Don't speed up or apply the brakes abruptly.
  3. To stop safely, release the throttle and coast to a stop.
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What happens when you fall through thin ice?

Falling through ice can induce a cold shock response, where you gasp as you fall and accidentally inhale water. The panic can also cause you to hyperventilate, which can lead to unconsciousness. In both instances, drowning is a real possibility and can happen within minutes.
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Snowmobile Ed: What To Do When You Fall Through Ice



How long can you survive if you fall through ice?

The cold shock response lasts for about one minute. Once you have your breathing under control, you now have approximately 10 minutes before you lose effective use of your hands, arms, and legs.
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How long can you survive under ice?

Once that response goes away, you're fine…for awhile. Generally, a person can survive in 41-degree F (5-degree C) water for 10, 15 or 20 minutes before the muscles get weak, you lose coordination and strength, which happens because the blood moves away from the extremities and toward the center, or core, of the body.
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What is the first thing you should do if your snowmobile falls through ice?

Crawl up onto the ice, and then crawl or roll (but don't stand—you may break through again) until you're on solid ice. Take action immediately to prevent hypothermia.
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How can a snowmobile suit help if a rider falls into water?

In addition to keeping you warm, a snowmobile suit will keep you afloat if you fall into freezing water. Because it traps air, it acts like a flotation device. Some suits also have flotation material sewn into the lining, and others have special air pockets that you can inflate by blowing into a tube.
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How thick should ice be to snowmobile on it?

At 5 inches of new clear ice should be enough to hold a single snowmobile or ATV or about 800 pounds. At 8-12 inches the ice should be suitable for a small car or a larger group of people. Light pickup trucks or SUV's should be ok on new clear ice 12-15” thick.
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What to do if someone falls in freezing water?

To rescue a victim who has fallen through the ice, follow these steps in order: Preach, reach, throw, row, go.
  1. Preach. United States Coast Guard. ...
  2. Reach. If you can talk the victim out of the ice, wonderful! ...
  3. Throw. If you can't reach the victim with a ladder or pole, try to throw them a line. ...
  4. Row. ...
  5. Go. ...
  6. Treat Hypothermia.
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What happens if you fall into ice water?

Falling through ice into the frigid waters below brings about almost instant hypothermia. In fact, your body responds to the sudden temperature drop by going into cold-water shock. That means your heart rate accelerates rapidly and you gasp for air, or hyperventilate.
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What should you carry If you plan to ride over frozen water?

If you plan to ride over frozen water, take additional precautions.
  • Carry emergency ice picks designed for snowmobilers and fishermen. If you fall through the ice, you can anchor the palm-size picks at the edge of the hole and pull yourself out of the water.
  • Some snowmobile jackets are now designed to provide flotation.
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Why do snowmobile face shields have a double lens?

Snowmobile helmets are designed to protect your head and face in collisions or falls, from tree branches while riding, from the cold, and from loud noise. Unlike motorcycle helmets, snowmobile helmets have vents that you can open or close to prevent fogging. Snowmobile face shields have a double lens to resist fogging.
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How do you break through thick ice?

Use a metal-bladed shovel to pry up ice after the deicer has softened it. In the case of stubborn ice, break it up with a sledgehammer, or use a pinch point bar to pry it off your driveway. Treat stubborn patches of ice with a 50/50 mix of hot water and alcohol to melt ice.
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How long can you survive in a frozen lake?

In water that is around the freezing point, a person is likely to survive only 15 to 45 minutes with flotation and possibly up to an hour or so with flotation and protective gear before the brain and heart stop (Table 1). The surface temperature of Lake Superior in early to mid-summer is about 40 to 50 F.
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Is ice thicker in the middle of a pond?

Ice on the edge is limited to the depth of the water at the edge. So it is always thicker towards the middle.
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How long do you have to be in ice to get hypothermia?

The Timeline of Hypothermia

When the water temperature is 40 degrees or below, serious injury can result in as little as a few minutes. Even in water temperatures approaching 50 degrees, death can occur within the first hour of cold water immersion.
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How cold does it have to be to get hypothermia?

Hypothermia (hi-poe-THUR-me-uh) occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C).
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How long does it take for hypothermia to set in?

Hypothermia can develop in as little as five minutes in temperatures of minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit if you're not dressed properly and have exposed skin, especially the scalp, hands, fingers, and face, Glatter explained. At 30 below zero, hypothermia can set in in about 10 minutes.
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What makes a good ice pick?

Durability: An ice pick is a tool, and all tools need to be durable enough to be used again. Look for high-quality materials and an overall sturdy construction. Size: Whether you like a longer or shorter tool depends on your personal preference, but various lengths are available, with most being around 7 to 9 inches.
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What is an ice spud?

A spud bar is a long piece of steel, generally about 4-5 feet in length with a tapered point at the end. THAT'S IT! To some anglers it's something they leave out of their vehicle when embarking for the ice as it may be deemed inconvenient and cumbersome.
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