How to Use Ice Safety Picks

Imagine you are out ice fishing or ice skating on a lake and you fall through the ice. You keep your head above water, but can’t seem to get a grip on the slippery ice to pull yourself out. Now picture this grim scenario with you having a pair of ice safety picks at your disposal. You use them to gain a purchase on the ice and save your life. Here is how to use this life-saving tool.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Ice safety picks
• Cold weather gear

1. Purchase ice safety picks for under $10 at any tackle shop. For a small amount, you can have some insurance against a terrible situation. Ice safety picks are cheap enough so that no individual who frequently uses frozen lakes and ponds for recreational purposes should be without them. They can be bought in department stores’ sporting goods aisles and online as well, at site such as Thorne Brothers Custom Rod and Tackle.

2. Take the ice safety picks out and stretch the nylon cord that connects them. Ice safety picks are comprised of a long cord, a pair of handles that can fit easily into your hands, and a metal spike protruding from the end of each handle. You need to stretch the cord so that it doesn’t contract too much.

3. When you go out on the ice, thread the ice safety picks through the sleeves of your coat. Put them through before you put the coat on. Once you have the coat on, make sure that the picks are well down your arm. If the connecting cord is too “tight,” then pull on it some more so that the handles are down by your wrists. They are designed so that if you do go through the ice you can have quick access to them. Putting them simply around your neck on the outside of your clothing makes it possible for them to fall off you and be lost, especially if you should go through the ice.

4. If you should fall through, keep your head about you and position the ice safety picks in your hands tightly. The most dangerous time for individuals who have broken through the ice is the first minute, as they tend to gasp due to reflexes and the swallowing of water. Keep your wits about you and be calm, treading water. Get your ice safety picks into your hands. You can hold onto the edge and get each pick into your palm.

5. Using your hands pull yourself out of the water as high as you can and kick your legs. As you propel yourself forward, take the ice safety picks and dig into the ice with them to pull yourself out. Take your time and make sure that you have dug the picks into the ice as hard as you can. You should be able to pull yourself far enough out of the hole to be able to roll away from it. Always go back towards the direction that you came from, as this ice has already shown it can bear up under your weight. Roll away from the hole a good distance before getting on all fours and crawling to where you think the ice will be safe.

Tips & Warnings

• Another good idea is to wear a life jacket or other flotation device when out on the ice. These life-saving devices will help to keep you above water if you should fall through.

Resources

• Thorne Brothers website