(WWJ) -- The freezing temperatures around Michigan lately haven’t done enough to make it safe to go out on lake ice.
That's the message from Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard who says “not to be fooled” by the frosty temperatures.
“There is no ice that should be considered safe at this time,” Bouchard said. “While all the lakes have a covering of ice, I urge residents to be extremely cautious. Ice thickness can be very deceiving as every lake freezes differently. Ice that is several inches thick in one area may be dangerously thin just a few feet away.”
He provided a list of recommendations for those who are going onto the ice:
• There is not a reliable "inch-thickness" to determine if ice is safe.
• You can test ice thickness and quality using a spud, needle bar or auger.
• Strongest ice: clear with bluish tint.
• Weak ice: ice formed by melted and refrozen snow. Appears milky.
• Stay off ice with slush on top. Slush ice is only half as strong as clear ice and indicates the ice is not freezing from the bottom.
• A sudden cold front with low temperatures can create cracks within a half-day.
• A warm spell may take several days to weaken ice and cause the ice to thaw during the
day and refreeze at night.
• Ice weakens with age.
• Stronger the current on the lake, the more likely the ice will give to open water.
• Avoid areas of ice with protruding debris like logs or brush.
Bouchard said if someone falls through the ice, they should keep winter clothing on. Heavy clothes won’t drag a person down, but they can help provide warmth. The person should then turn in the water so they are facing the direction they came from. The ice is most likely the strongest in that direction. Ice picks can help pull the person back onto the ice by digging the points into the ice and vigorously kicking their feet. The person should roll away from the area that had weak ice instead of standing. Rolling can help distribute weight and help avoid breaking through the ice again.
Once they are on safe ground again, they need to seek shelter immediately and remove their wet clothing. They should put on dry, warm clothing and drink non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated warm beverages as well.
If the person feels disoriented, has uncontrollable shivering or has any other symptoms of hypothermia, should call 911 and seek medical attention.