THINK TWICE BEFORE WALKING ON THE ICE

 

THINK TWICE BEFORE WALKING ON ICE

Dog Safety: Winter Ice

 

PREVENTION: 

Before going out on the ice with your dog

 

CHECK MUNICIPAL ICE SAFETY

Check local authorities for ice safety checks. These usually can be found on your municipality’s webpage or by calling their switchboard.

KNOW BASICS OF ICE SAFETY

Learn HOW TO CHECK for safe ice:

  • Measure THICKNESS of the ice (4” may be safe for walking, but thicker ice is always better)
  • Do a VISUAL CHECK of the ice conditions: water on surface, slushy areas, cracks, etc.
  • SNOW makes ice less safe.
  • COLOUR OF ICE can indicate safe ice: “Thick and blue, tried and true; Thin and crispy, way too risky.”

There are many CONDITIONS THAT AFFECT ice safety:

  • Changing air temperature
  • Depth and size of body of water
  • Currents, tides and other moving water (stay away)
  • Chemicals including salt
  • Fluctuations in water levels
  • Logs, rocks and docks absorbing heat from the sun
  • Shock waves from vehicles traveling on the ice

 

AVOID POORLY LIT AREAS

Skating at night with your dog can be fun, but only in areas that are well lit. Even when you are very familiar with the area, things could have changed, (cracks, holes, soft spots) that you are unable to see at night. 

 

AVOID RISK

Use common sense to keep you and your dog safe around frozen waterways

  • Keep your DOG ON LEASH
  • KEEP your dogs AWAY from frozen water
  • Ice over moving water should ALWAYS be AVOIDED
    • This type of ice may never be solidly frozen
    • Currents, tides, waves and other types of moving water may prevent a solid freeze
    • If your dog falls through this type of ice, they can be swept under the ice by the current, leaving no opportunity for rescue.

 

AVOID UNFAMILIAR AREAS

Unfamiliar with an area, then it’s time to keep your dog on leash. Danger, such as thin ice, may be just around the corner or over the hill.

 

KNOW WHAT TO DO

Know ahead of time what to do in case of an emergency on frozen waterways

 

TRAINING

In order for your dog to be safely off leash, they should have solid “Recall” (come) and “Leave It” commands.

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG FALLS THROUGH ICE

 

DON’T PANIC

If your dog falls through ice:

 

  • STAY CALM. Keep your head and follow these steps to get your dog home safely.
  • Your first instinct will be to run and help your dog, however, you need to THINK CLEARLY about the situation.

 

CALL 911

  • If your pet is unable to free itself after 2 minutes, immediately CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT (911) and let them know what has happened.
  • Most Fire Departments have the MANPOWER that is TRAINED and have the right EQUIPMENT (dry suits, ropes, ladders, boats, etc.) for icy water extractions including helping our pets.
  • In some areas, your emergency responders may be VOLUNTEERS and not able to go in after your dog. This may be something you want to CHECK out in your area BEFORE HEADING OUT onto the ice.
  • Once the FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVES, STAY BACK and let them DO THEIR JOB. You can ask if they want you to do anything. Keep calling to your dog and encouraging it.

 

DO NOT GO IN AFTER YOUR DOG: Seriously, don’t!

Do not run to your dog or try to save them yourself. Instead, follow these steps to ensure you both get home safely.

  • If you think it can’t happen to you, you are wrong. PEOPLE DIE TRYING TO SAVE THEIR DOGS who have fallen through the ice and OFTEN it is the DOG that SURVIVES by getting itself out of trouble. This doesn’t mean you do nothing, it means you GET HELP from PROFESSIONALS.
  • DO NOT RUN TO YOUR DOG, as you may be in danger of falling through the thin ice. An animal’s natural instinct will be to try and climb out of the water, if you go to your pet, you may find YOURSELF ACCIDENTALLY PULLED INTO the WATER.

 

WORK FROM SHORE: While waiting for 911

It’s hard to watch your dog struggling. Do not risk your own life, work hard from the shore on encouraging your dog to keep trying to get out.

  • STAY BACK off the ice.
  • If YOU are standing ON ICE, MOVE AWAY from the area, as the ice you are on may also be weak.
  • LIE FLAT on the ice and spread your weight out and more towards solid ground, keeping your eyes on your pet.
  • CALL your PET’S NAME. Once on the safe ground call your pet and encourage him/her to come to you.
  • DOGS are INCREDIBLE SWIMMERS, have CLAWS and can often FREE THEMSELVES from dangerous situations.
  • CALL FOR HELP. If there are people around, CALL OUT. People are always WILLING TO HELP. It is amazing how many people carry cell phones and they may be able to call the fire department for you.

 

ENCOURAGE YOUR DOG

  • While WAITING for emergency professionals to arrive be PROACTIVE, CALL OUT to your dog, OFFER TREAT, TOYS, and ENCOURAGEMENT.
    • EXAMPLE: Call out your dog’s favourite words like “Dinner”, “Treats”, “Let’s go for a Drive”.
  • CALL OUT your dog’s FAVOURITE THINGS are… call them out. Anything that may encourage your dog to keep trying to get out of the icy water.
    • EXAMPLE: Squeak or play with a toy, ball or stick. More often than not, the dog will be able to help itself.

 

PRETEND TO LEAVE

  • If all else fails, you could try pretending to leave which may MAKE your DOG WORK EVEN HARDER in order to stay with you.
    • EXAMPLE: Years ago our dog and another dog got out on the ice. Our dog came back, but the bigger dog fell through the ice. We called and encouraged this dog, a stranger to us, as much as we could. We had to go get help (no cellphones in those days)… as we were leaving, the dog finally got itself out of the water and came to join us. It didn’t want to be left behind. It was a very lucky dog. PHEW!!!

 

ONCE YOUR DOG IS SAFELY OUT OF THE WATER: 

Dry off, warm up your dog, and talk to your vet

 

DRY OFF and WRAP UP

Dry your dog off as best you can and wrap them up.

  • WRAP your dog in a towel, BLANKET, jacket, ESPECIALLY THEIR EXTREMITIES which may be prone to FROSTBITE (Tips of ears, paws, scrotum, tail, etc.)

 

BRING INSIDE

Get them indoors, out of the elements…

  • Inside a warm CAR, turn the heater on high
  • ANY OUTBUILDING, BARN, GARAGE, or SHED to help block the wind and cold
  • Inside your CAMP or COTTAGE
  • Get them in a home, even better their own HOME

 

WRAP UP EXTREMITIES

Wrap them in blankets at home, especially their extremities (Tips of ears, paws, scrotum, tail, etc.)

 

WARM BLANKETS/TOWELS

Warm the blankets in the dryer, radiator or in front of a fire

 

HEATING PADS/HOT WATER BOTTLES

Use heating pads, warm water bottles to help bring up their temperature

  • WRAP these in a TOWEL so as NOT to BURN your dog
  • PLACE on their ABDOMEN

 

WARM FLUIDS

Give your dog warm fluids (ie. small amounts often of warm water or warm watered down chicken broth)

  • Give your dog SMALLER AMOUNTS of fluid MORE OFTEN
  • You DON’T want them to GULP down too much water as it could make them SICK.
  • Your dog probably spent a lot of energy trying to get out of the water and while trying to get warm. Consider giving them electrolytes like watered down chicken broth. You can learn more about here: DIY ELECTROLYTES for your DOG

 

SIGNS OF HYPERTHERMIA IN A DOG

  • KNOW the SIGNS of hyperthermia in a dog by checking out this PETMED website  
  • CALL your VET and ASK directly about the signs of hyperthermia

 

TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE VET

  • Once your pet is safe, take them to the VETERINARIAN for a CHECK UP. Let your vet know exactly what has happened.

 

RESOURCES

 

HALIFAX SEARCH AND RESCUE: Ice Safety

https://halifaxsar.ca/ice-safety

 

RED CROSS ICE SAFETY

http://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/swimming-and-water-safety-tips-and-resources/swimming–boating-and-water-safety-tips/ice-safety

 

ICE SAFETY CHECKS: Halifax

https://apps.halifax.ca/icethickness

 

DOGSTER

http://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/a-warning-to-pups-and-people-keep-your-paws-off-the-ice

 

WIKIHOW

http://www.wikihow.com/Know-When-Ice-is-Safe

 

PETMED: Hyperthermia

http://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_hypothermia