12/29/2025
"For anyone who should fall into icy water, in these situations people should spread their weight by lying down on the ice and extending a long object, such as a hockey stick, for the person in distress to grab onto.
Another important rule to remember is “1-10-1,” Hawkins emphasizes.
When you fall into icy water, your body undergoes thermal shock, which triggers hyperventilation.
“You feel your respiratory system wanting to go faster to activate circulation,” he said, noting the first “1” represents one minute, the time a person has to calm their breathing before losing consciousness.
“The 10 is 10 minutes of muscle strength ahead of you,” said Hawkins, explaining that this window of time allows a person to get out of the water before losing all their energy.
“Ideally, I would advise you to turn towards where you came from because there are a few centimetres or a few steps where the ice can support you,” advised Hawkins.
He suggests swimming while punching the ice with your fist until it no longer breaks.
This indicates that you have reached a more solid surface, where you can attempt to lift your body out of the water while crawling.
“Once you’re completely out, this is not the time to stand up,” warns Hawkins. To avoid breaking the ice again, he recommends retracing your steps on all fours.
The last “1” indicates that a person can remain in cold water for one hour before dying of hypothermia."
Following the drowning of a man in his 40s and a three-year-old child in the Saint-Zénon region, Quebec’s Lifesaving Society is reminding people of numerous safety rules that must be followed when engaging in winter ice activities.
