[icebadger]

This is why there needs to be courses or demonstrations about ice and ice safety offered to the public. There are videos on youtube about ice rescues if someone goes through the ice. Look folks you have to have common sense about the ice "IF IN DOUBT DO NOT GO OUT'.. You should always have some sort of safty gear with you if you skate or go icefishing or whatever you want to do on the ice. Anybody that does not have a set of picks on a string that you wear over your neck is just asking for trouble. it does not matter if the ice is 4" or 1' thick you should always have picks on you. they make icefishing suits that help you float just like a PFD (personal flotation devise) will. As pointed out in other posts you can not fix stupid but you can educate someone that just does not know about ice and it's dangers. Jigman pointed out that 4" of ice can support a 200lb person walking carefully on the ice but you still have to pay attention were you are walking. The use of a spud bar is another good way to check the condition of the ice you simply strike the ice as you walk and that will let you know if the ice is solid. What has happened in the last couple of days was tragic may god be with the familys of the people that died or got hurt. Another thing that i want to point out, the photo that is in oelgnal1's post shows the different stages that the ice formed you can clearly see the newer clear ice out from shore and the gray thicker ice near shore you do not go on that newer ice with the weather we have been having a spud bar would have saved this person a lot of trouble.