Hennepin County Sheriff Urges Caution on Ice

Created: 01/25/2013 12:49 PM KSTP.com By: Cassie Hart

As temps warm up the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is urging everyone to be careful on the frozen lakes.

The Sheriff's Office says that no ice should ever be considered completely safe. Freezing and thawing have created variable ice conditions.  
 
Last weekend, seven vehicles broke through the ice on Lake Minnetonka. An infant died after being submerged for nearly 25 minutes.

Hennepin County residents are urged to review these safety guidelines:

• Anyone using the ice –including people on foot, snowmobiles and ATVs --should use safety precautions such as wearing life jackets.  Sheriff’s deputies wear life jackets when they are on the ice.

• For parents and caregivers of young children, remember that if your child is walking on – or near-- ice  -- you should be near your child. Active supervision is recommended at all times on – or near -- lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water.

• For parents and caregivers of teens and young adults, communicate your safety rules and restrictions for those who will be driving your vehicles. If driving on ice is prohibited in your vehicle, make that rule clear to all potential drivers.

• Despite the recent cold weather, channels of Lake Minnetonka remain dangerous and should be avoided. A vehicle, such as a car, truck, or SUV, should NEVER be driven through a channel.

• Channels should be also be avoided by people on foot, snowmobiles, and ATVs.  A snowmobile or ATV also have a high likelihood of going through the ice on a channel.

• Pressure ridges should be avoided at all times due to a false impression that the ice is stable. All vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, snowmobiles, and ATVs should avoid pressure ridges.  People on foot should avoid pressure ridges.

For more information about ice safety and emergency response, click here.