Ice and Frozen Bodies of Water

Ice

Ice presents many of the same handling problems as riding on pavement. Also, spins are common, and fast stops are impossible.
Maintain a slow, steady speed. Don't speed up or apply the brakes abruptly.
To stop safely, release the throttle and coast to a stop.

Frozen Bodies of Water

Riding on the frozen surface of water should be avoided due to the risk of death from falling into freezing water. If you cannot avoid it and must cross frozen water:

Scout ahead.
- Go to as high an area of elevation above the lake as possible and use binoculars to look for dark spots on the ice. This indicates slush, water, or deteriorating ice. Do not attempt to cross this ice.
- Watch for rivulets flowing on the ice or streams flowing under it. Even when the surface looks solid, a current under the ice causes erosion from below. Ice over a flowing river is at least 15% weaker than ice over a lake.
Wear a brightly colored inflatable personal flotation device (life jacket) on the outside of your snowmobile jacket.
If you're in a group, avoid crossing in single file. If the group leader falls through, riders in single file may not be able to stop or maneuver the snowmobile quickly enough to keep from following the leader into the ice.

Cold Water Immersion

Cold water immersion kills in several ways. The colder the water, the greater the chance of death. By understanding how your body reacts to cold water, you can be more prepared and thus increase your chance of survival.

There are four stages of cold water immersion.

Stage 1: Initial “cold shock” occurs in the first 3–5 minutes. Sudden immersion into cold water can cause immediate, involuntary gasping; hyperventilation; panic; and vertigo—all of which can result in water inhalation and drowning.
Stage 2: Short-term “swim failure” occurs 3–30 minutes after immersion in cold water. Even normally strong persons can become unable to pull themselves out of the water. Death occurs by drowning.
Stage 3: Long-term immersion hypothermia sets in after 30 minutes. Initial symptoms include shivering, slurred speech, and memory loss. Hypothermia eventually leads to loss of consciousness and death, with or without drowning.
Stage 4: Post-immersion collapse occurs during or after rescue. The effects from being immersed in cold water can lead to cardiac arrest.

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Course Outline

Ice

Frozen Bodies of Water