On Thin Ice, And In Danger

Winter can be full of fun with activities such as ice skating, ice fishing and hockey. But a frozen lake or pond can be a death trap, because ice can give way at any moment.

The Early Show consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen says it's impossible to know just how many people fall through ice, but it happens every year.

That's why experts say you should never go out onto the ice alone.

And if you do fall in, you need to know how to save yourself.

Koeppen spoke with the family of John Harsch, a champion dog breeder who loved to taking walks at a pond near his home in Cape Cod, Mass.

She says there's no ice there this year, but last winter, there was ice on it. And, in late March, the serenity of the peaceful setting was shattered when Harsch and some of his dogs fell through the ice.

Two calls came into 911.

"It's cold," remembers Harsch's sister, Diane Gerke, "and you're trying to save yourself and two dogs all at the same time … and that's when he started to cry out for help."

But rescuers didn't reach Harsch in time. Though his dogs survived, Harsch was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"It was such an unbelievable shock. It's the only way to describe it," says Harsch's brother, David Harsch.

When someone falls through the ice, Koeppen points out, it becomes a race against time. Victims can suffer from hypothermia in minutes, but there are things you can take to save yourself.

Koeppen visited an ice rescue training course in Harrisville, N.H., where she suited up in protective gear and worked her way out onto a frozen pond, with water safety expert Gerry Dworkin by her side.Dworkin, who is with Lifesaving Resources, Inc., told Koeppen no ice is safe ice: It can be fine in one spot, and open up like a trap door in another.

Once you fall in, Dworkin says, you have to act fast and try to get out.

Easier said than done, Koeppen noticed saying, "There's nothing to hang onto. I'm struggling. I can't get out."

"If you had gloves that you could remove," Dworkin said, "you could actually take them off and hopefully, the skin is going to stick to the ice and keep you there."

Also, kick your feet. Try to get your body horizontal and swim up onto the ice.

If that doesn't work, Koeppen says, simply call for help. Getting it quickly is crucial.

"Within 10 minutes, 15 minutes," Dworkin explained, "you are going to be so hypothermic, you are not going to be able to assist yourself in any way, shape or form."

You can conserve body heat by tucking your arms and legs close to your body. Keeping your coat on provides insulation.

Dworkin adds that anyone who ventures onto the ice should carry a plastic whistle to signal for help. It will be louder than your voice.

And always carry a pair of ice picks. They cost about $18 and a good investment if you're venturing onto the ice.

Using them, Koeppen was able to pull herself out of the icy water in a matter of seconds.

Once out, stay on your belly and roll away from the edge.

If you see someone fall through the ice, attempt a rescue only from the safety of shore, Dworkin says.

Items in your home such as a boogey board or ladder can be pushed onto the ice toward the victim.

And simple things in your car, such as a spare tire or jumper cables, can be used to save someone.

Says Dworkin, "If you can extend your reach from shore using a ladder, a tree limb, jumper cables, anything like that, would be better than going out onto the ice and putting your self in jeopardy, and the victim, as well."

Harsch was too far out to be rescued from shore, but his family hopes his story will help teach others about the danger of being on the ice, and the importance of knowing what to do if you fall in.

"It's something I am constantly reminded of and constantly thinking of," his brother David tells Koeppen. "I just hope we can make something positive of this."

Other tips from Dworkin and Koeppen: If you do go out onto the ice, avoid ice with air bubbles, spots where rocks or stumps are sticking out, and ice over moving water. All those conditions can mean thin or weak ice.

And if you want to do something fun with the kids such as ice skating, make sure you skate on a body of water that's shallow. That way, if you fall in, you'll be in water that doesn't go over your head.