Falling through the ice

[JBaum]

OK, it's winter right now, and most people will never fall through the ice, but if this post ever makes a difference to somebody, it's well worth it.

I've been translating the 1943 Winter Warfare German book (415 pages is not a manual), about living and surviving on the Russian front in really cold weather. The following is a paragraph that needs shared from the book that explains a rather brilliant way to get out of an ice hole. I remember scuba diving in winter, and it is surprisingly difficult to get out of a hole in the ice.

"The ice edge of the ice hole is usually the strongest in the direction from which the person has come. If the ice can be broken further, strike the ice with the fist to make the hole larger so that you have some room. When the edge of the stronger ice is reached, turn with your back toward the ice, make a swimming motion with the legs and at the same time extend the arms toward the rear. Try to lift a leg to the opposite ice edge, whereupon extend the leg slowly and without jerking, so that the body is thereby shoved onto the ice. Hereafter, extend the leg to the side, placing yourself on the ice, then turn around and roll away from the ice hole."

Very simple, very effective, needs passed around - tell the kids.

[Chuckm]

Thanks John, I will pass it around here. Some nut always manages to do that out in Washoe Late between here and Reno, bloody thing is only 6Ft deep but they still do it and have a fit.......................

Thanks again,

Chuckm
Carson City
Nevada

[42rocker]

Saving ones life will make the cost of the "manual" immaterial.
Sounds like something interesting. Thanks for sharing that part.

Later 42rocker

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

A friend and former co-worker tried to cross the Mississippi river here in MN years back with his girlfriend and went through the ice and died. It was tragic.