DELTA COUNTY, MI— Cold temperatures may make ice form, but that doesn’t mean it’s thick enough to walk on.
Delta County Emergency Management says ice on bodies of water with a current—like Little Bay de Noc, rivers, and creeks—are particularly unstable.
Officials say if you fall through the ice, follow the 1-10-1 rule outlined by The Lifesaving Society. In the first minute, focus on getting your breathing under control and keep your head above water. Use the next 10 minutes while you still have movement to grab onto the ice in front of you to attempt self-rescue. If you are unable to carry out a self-rescue, you have about one hour before you will likely go unconscious due to hypothermia.
Always check ice conditions before you head out, let people know where you’re going and when you plan to be back, and never go on the ice alone.
Officials say it’s also important to keep dogs on leash when around freezing bodies of water. Shoreline ice is weak and can result in accidents if your pet is exploring.
