Local News

Now that a genuine “Seattle freeze” has arrived, Kent Fire Department Capt. Kyle Ohashi offers survival tips for people who find themselves attracted to frosty lakes and ponds.

Lesson one is, don’t walk out on them, because the ice likely won’t support the weight of a human being.  Pets can go out farther than their owners, who would break through the ice trying to retrieve a pet.  In Minnesota, where people do safely skate and fish on lakes, resource officials say the ice needs to be at least two inches thick.

If someone does break through into icy waters, bystanders ought to:

* Call 9-1-1 immediately.

* Throw a rope or flotation device, while trying not to send additional people onto the thin ice.

* Understand that someone can lose consciousness in 10-15 minutes, or suffer hypothermia far sooner.

* Take off wet clothing and dry the victim until paramedics arrive – but do not place the person in a hot bath or shower.

In Seattle, Kent and surroundings, the National Weather Service forecast calls for lows of around 30 degrees all week.

More information is linked here from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.