The frigid waters will knock your breath out. Avoid thrashing around and take a moment to get control of your breathing.
DON’T REMOVE ANY CLOTHING despite what you think, IT WON’T WEIGH YOU DOWN that much and can actually trap pockets of air, keeping you above the surface, “Minnesota dept. of natural resources.”
The easiest way out is THE WAY YOU CAME IN. chances are, that’s the direction of the strongest ice. Place both hands on solid ice. If you have anything sharp, use it to get traction to pull yourself up. Kick your legs until your body is horizontal and pull yourself out up onto your elbows. This allows water to drain from your clothes.
Slide yourself out of the ice and lie flat. This will distribute your weight over a large surface area, making it less likely for the ice to break. Roll away from the hole. Once clear of the ice, get to a warm dry area immediately and heat yourself up.
Once in near-frozen water, you have 10 MINUTES before your muscles BECOME TOO COLD TO FUNCTION and an hour before you’re UNCONSCIOUS. If you can’t pull yourself out, at least remain half out of the water. This way, your coat will freeze to the surface, keep you above water before you become unconscious.
Of course, the safest way to survive is to STAY OFF of UNSAFE ICE.
