DNR Official Offers Tips For Staying Safe This Winter Games Weekend
DNR Official Offers Tips For Staying Safe This Winter Games Weekend
January 27, 2022Steve Schwaller
(Arnolds Park)– With a huge influx of people expected in the Iowa Great Lakes for Winter Games this weekend comes an added reminder about safety. Especially on the ice. Mike Hawkins of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says there are a number of things we need to be aware of…
“Well definitely not congregating heavy vehicles in one location. That can cause problems. Be sure that if you are venturing out, especially with a vehicle, that you have a known ice depth, that you’re very aware of what’s ahead of you. We always recommend that people check that ice often ahead of where they’re traveling. You know, don’t go into areas along, you know, in areas you aren’t familiar with. We have a lot of folks coming into the area that aren’t familiar with the lakes and those folks need to be especially cautious. I think a lot of times people think they can, they’re safe along shorelines if they just kind of hug that shoreline, and that will give people a false sense of security because we wind up having folks go through in those areas as well. So just because you’re a long the shoreline doesn’t mean you’re not going to run into some low quality ice or a soft spot or something like that.”
He also has this advice:…
“Make sure that folks know where you are. A pair of ice picks along is always good to have in the pocket so you can self-rescue if you do go in. Having some form of flotation along with you if you’re going to be out on the ice.”
Hawkins adds the DNR will have additional enforcement officers on duty this weekend…
“The Department of Natural Resources conservation officers from this region of the state will be helping out the local conservation officers here, and so they’ll be out making sure that folks are being safe, making sure that the rules on the lake are being followed and the local fire departments also will be, you know, sort of standby as well just, you know, just in case something happens, but I wouldn’t rely on those folks. Folks need to take care of themselves and make sure they’re being safe out there.”
The same thing goes for those on land. A big influx of traffic is expected on the roads as well this weekend. Several law enforcement agencies in the Iowa Great Lakes say they’ll also have additional officers on duty watching for distracted drivers and those operating under the influence. Authorities say 40 arrests were made last year during Winter Games weekend.
