A Sunday afternoon of ice fishing took a dive after three trucks, a trailer, and their occupants broke through ice in Balsam Bay (a southern portion of Lake Winnipeg).

"We've been advising everyone this season right from when we had the high water levels in September-October that we're going to have unpredictable ice conditions throughout the winter season," says Dr. Christopher Love, Water Smart Coordinator with Lifesaving Society Manitoba.

He says if you do decide to go out on the ice you have to know that you might fall through the ice and should be prepared to do so.

He says there are three top priorities in being prepared.

"First is you don't go out alone. If you're going to go out on the ice you need to have somebody with you, at least one friend or multiple friends, so that if one person gets into trouble there’s somebody else there to help them out," he says.

Secondly, wearing a lifejacket on top of your parka, or other personal flotation device such as a flotation snowmobile suit because of the three stages your body will go through, also known as the 'one-ten-one rule.'

  1. Cold shock will set in which can cause panic as your body tries to stay afloat (one minute).
  2. Your body and muscles are still able to move and get you out (10 minutes).
  3. The time it takes before hypothermia sets in which can cause unconsciousness (one hour).

Love says, "the third big point that we suggest to everybody is . . . you need to have a personal safety kit with you, on your body, in your jacket, or on your person at all times when you're out on the ice."

This includes things like ice picks which can help you get out of water and onto ice.

"You should have something that's going to allow you to light a fire, whether it's waterproof matches, a lighter or something. You need to have a multi-tool or pocket knife. Something that's going to help you get some basic small kindling so you can make that fire when you're out on the lake and get to shore and need to warm yourself up."

Also important is a pea-less whistle on your wrist or jacket, and a communication device like a cellphone or two-way radio. All of these need to be kept waterproof and on the person so it can't be lost.

He says as the water levels drop the ice can have air pockets underneath that can cause cracks. This ice will freeze again, but since it has been broken and frozen again it is unlikely to be safe, especially as currents still flow underneath.