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Officials Warn of Thin Ice WDTonline -- Watertown Daily Times |
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JUNEAU - Unseasonably warm weather this past week has caused a number of thin ice accidents on lakes in Dodge County. The Dodge County Sheriff's Department warns people to stay off the ice during dangerous conditions. Today at 3:43 a.m. the sheriff's department received a call from a man who said his friend, who had been ice fishing, had fallen through the ice on his ATV and was pinned. Deputies and the Beaver Dam fire department responded to the scene with a hovercraft. While approaching the scene, Cpl. Paul Nell fell through the ice, causing back and head injuries. The Beaver Dam fire department rescued him with the hovercraft. The man pinned under the ATV was able to free himself and refused medical treatment. This particular incident took place on Beaver Dam Lake west of the fish camp near Goose Island. Citizens should be aware that the lake is dangerous. Given current conditions, all lakes in the area should be considered dangerous. This is the third incident this week that the Dodge County Sheriff's Department has responded to due to the poor and unstable ice conditions because of recent mild temperatures and wind. The Dodge County Sheriff's Department recommends staying off the ice for any recreational activity. The following are tips on how to survive a fall through the ice from, "The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Travel," by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. First, breathe steadily. The shock of hitting cold water will be considerable, but remain calm and breathe steadily. Next, turn in the direction you came from, which most likely was an area with thicker ice. After that use your elbows to lift yourself up onto the edge of the hole. Do not get out yet, but hold yourself in that position letting as much water as possible drain from your clothing. Next reach across the solid ice as far as you can using anything you have, car keys, a comb or a brush to dig into the surface and grip to pull yourself forward. Kick your feet as though you were swimming, and pull yourself up as you continue to kick. Once on the ice do not stand up, but stay flat and roll away from the hole and then crawl on your belly until you reach solid ice. |
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