Falling into ice-cold water
The 1-10-1 rule: three clocks, in this exact order
1 minute: cold shock
- Don't try to swim right away, you'll swallow water
- Grab onto anything that floats, keep your head up
- Take short, controlled breaths
- 20% die in the first 2 minutes
10 minutes: before incapacitation
- The cold stiffens hands, arms, and legs fast
- Head to the nearest exit point
- Don't try to swim far, it exhausts you for nothing
- Get out NOW, not in five minutes
Self-rescue from ice
- Turn back toward the direction you came from
- Lay your arms flat on the solid ice
- Kick horizontally, don't pull vertically
- Crawl then roll toward the shore, don't stand up
Rescuing someone: never get in the water
- Reach: pole, branch, scarf, rope
- Throw: buoy, weighted rope, floating object
- Row: boat pushed flat over the ice
- Go: absolute last resort, tied to a rope
Afterward: the afterdrop
- Dry clothes, insulate from the ground and wind
- Warm sugary drink if conscious and able to swallow
- Never rub the skin or apply direct heat
- Hospital even if they seem fine
lostandalive.com/guide/eau-glacee · 112 (Europe) · 911 (Amérique du Nord)