Colorado State Parks and Wildlife warns of dangers of walking onto frozen bodies of water
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado State Parks and Wildlife saw a record number of drownings in 2020 as more people headed outdoors during the pandemic.
Officials with CPW said what kills most people in the water isn’t their inability to swim, but hypothermia, which sets in even quicker during the winter.
Though they don’t have hard numbers, officials said they rescue people who fall through the ice every single year.
“We like to say there’s no such thing as safe ice," said Travis Duncan, Communication Specialist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "There are definitely some good guidelines for people to follow if people want to get out on the ice.”
One safety guideline frequently ignored has lead to many instances of pet owners chasing their animal onto frozen waters, sometimes falling through the ice themselves.
“We definitely encourage people, especially at our parks, to keep your dog on a leash." said Duncan. "I would encourage folks not to chase their dog onto the ice if they don’t know its safe. Try to call that pet back or test and see if the ice is safe before you get back onto it.”
Most tests can be done with the naked eye.
Ice that is clear, with a dark blue or green tint, is typically safe to walk on.
If the ice has water accumulation or shrubbery coming out the top, it’s a red flag that it’s not thick enough to walk on. However, because of the inconsistency of ice itself, these tests don’t always work.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office reports five accidental deaths or drownings involving ice between 2011 and 2018.
“Just because it’s safe where you are on the ice, it doesn't mean it’s safe everywhere, so it’s always good to be cautious," said Duncan.
If you do fall through the ice, do not attempt to swim. Officials said this causes you to lose heat in the body faster. They recommend moving slowly and deliberately to move back to where you entered the water, using your elbows to hoist yourself out.
