How To Survive Falling Through the Ice

Look for a long, sturdy pole or stick to hang onto before crossing; that way, if the ice does give way, it may prevent you from falling all the way in.

Crawl across frozen water on all fours so that your weight is distributed. Ice thickness can vary from spot to spot.

If you feel the ice beneath you cracking, grip the pole tightly—or spread your arms straight out if you have no pole—to break your fall and keep your torso above the water.

Spend a moment getting your breathing under control.

With your arms on the ice, start kicking your legs until your body is nearly horizontal with the surface. Then slither your body onto the ice, in the direction you came from.

Roll yourself away from the hole, and crawl back to shore on your stomach.

If you can’t get out within 10 minutes, hypothermia may set in and make moving your legs impossible. In that case, put your wet arms on the ice so they freeze there and prevent you from going under. And start yelling for help.

Once you’re out of the water, get out of your wet clothes as soon as possible and sip warm — not hot — nonalcoholic liquids. Then get to a hospital for an evaluation; hypothermia can cause dangerous aftereffects that aren’t always immediately apparent.