Ice safety day is march 1, 2026!
Drowning doesn't just happen to non-swimmers in the summer. Approximately 35% of drownings in Canada occur from October to April when most people have no intention of going into the water. It's important to realize that even at the height of summer, water in Canadian lakes and rivers is usually below 20 degrees Celsius, and hypothermia sets in within an hour.
No ice is safe ice. All ice-related activities – skating, skiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing – come with significant risk, and should be undertaken with advanced planning, education and proper preparation.
The chilling reality:
- Males account for more than 8 out of 10 unintentional ice-related fatalities.
- Almost all ice-related fatalities occur among adults.
- Water in Ontario is colder than you think.
- Most drownings occur in water less than 20 degrees Celsius.
- Snowmobiling over frozen bodies of water poses a large risk. Approximately half of ice-related fatalities occur while the individual engaging in recreational activity. Of these, nearly 2 in 5 were traveling by snowmobile.
- Nearly half of ice-related fatalities take place on a lake or pond. About one third
take place on flowing water.
Minimum Ice Thickness for:
- a single person - 4 inches (10 cm)
- a snowmobile or ATV - 5 inches (12 cm)
- a single car - 8-12 inches (20-30 cm)
- a vehicle (full-size pick up truck) - 12-15 inches (30-38 cm)
Stay alive, stay ice smart
The Lifesaving Society encourages you to be ice smart - know the basics and be sensible. Everybody needs to be careful around frozen lakes, rivers and streams.
No ice is without risk, but there are several steps you can take to stay ice smart:
Ice Safety Tips
- Keep away from unfamiliar paths or unknown ice. If you are exploring a new area, talk to locals or people such as a bait shop operator or resort owner for info, known ice conditions, thin ice areas or dangerous open water conditions.
- Avoid travelling on ice at night or when visibility is reduced.
- If you are going out onto ice, know what to do if you break through.
- Check the ice thickness. Almost 2 in 5 ice-related fatalities occurred on thin ice. And keep checking the ice, as the quality and thickness of ice can change very quickly and its appearance can be misleading.
- If you must venture onto the ice, wear a thermal protection buoyant suit to increase your chances of survival if you fall through. If you do not have one, wear a brightly-coloured lifejacket/PFD over an ordinary snowmobile suit or layered winter clothing.
- Avoid slushy ice, thawed ice that has recently refrozen, layered or rotten ice caused by sudden temperature changes, and ice near moving water (i.e., rivers or currents).
- Never go on the ice alone; a buddy may be able to rescue you or go for help if you get into difficulty. Half of ice-related fatalities occurred when the individual was alone.
- Before you leave shore, inform someone of your destination and expected time of return.
- Assemble a small personal safety kit no larger than the size of a man's wallet to carry with you. The kit should include a lighter, waterproof matches, magnesium fire starter, pocketknife, compass and whistle. You should also carry ice picks, an ice staff, a rope and a cellular phone.
- Don't try to rescue dogs that fall into cold water. Year after year, we hear of owners drowning while the dogs usually survive.
- Stay sober when on or around ice. Alcohol consumption was a contributing factor in about 1 in 3 ice-related fatalities.
What to do if you break through the ice?
- Don't panic - the clothes you're wearing will trap air and keep you buoyant.
- Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken ice surface.
- Kick your feet and try to push yourself forward on top of the unbroken ice on your stomach like a seal.
- Disperse your weight by spreading your self out as much as possible.
- Once you are lying on the ice, don't stand up. Roll, crawl or shimmy away from the break until you're on solid ice or land.
Remember 1-10-1:
- You have 1 minute to control your breathing
- 10 minutes to get yourself out of the water before you’ll lose the ability to move your body effectively.
- In the right conditions and with a lifejacket on, you could have up to 1 hour before hypothermia sets in.
Cold Water Awareness Videos
The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) has a series of Cold Water Awareness videos with tips on how to prepare for and survive in cold water, including the important 1-10-1 principle. Visit csbc.ca for these and other important water safety campaigns.
Ice myths and cold realities
Be Water Smart® in summer and winter! Always check the ice before you go on it, measure clean hard ice in several places and be wary of varying temperature conditions. Here are some myths and realities to remember:
1) Myth: Waterlogged clothing pulls you down in the water and makes you drown.
Reality: Actually, air trapped in your clothing will help keep you afloat temporarily. Once the clothes are soaked with water, they will be heavier, making moving and swimming more difficult.
2) Myth: The better you swim the better your chances of rescuing yourself if you fall through the ice.
Reality: Swimming proficiency plays only a small part in ice-related rescues. After as little as five minutes, cold water begins to rob you of your ability to move your limbs. This makes it very difficult for you to get out of the water, no matter what your swimming ability.
3) Myth: Snow on a frozen lake or river makes the ice surface stronger.
Reality: Snow acts as an insulating blanket, actually hindering ice formation and growth.
4) Myth: If the weather has been cold, the ice must be solid and safe.
Reality: Other factors that are largely independent of air temperature (e.g., wind, a layer of snow on the ice, currents and fluctuating water levels) can weaken ice and make it unable to bear weight. A sudden drop in air temperature, which is actually more dangerous than a sudden rise, can create cracks in the ice.
5) Myth: Thick ice is stronger than thin ice.
Reality: Even thick ice may be weak if it is "rotten" or contains layers of water. Rotten ice has frozen and thawed repeatedly, making it potentially fragile even when it appears solid.
Learn to Swim
Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. The Lifesaving Society offers training programs from learn-to-swim through advanced lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership.
Our Swim for Life program stresses lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate valuable Water Smart® education that will last a lifetime.
Swim to Survive is a Lifesaving Society survival training program. Swim to Survive is not a substitute for swimming lessons; instead, it defines the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. People of all ages should be able to perform the Society's Swim to Survive standard.