Teens Learn Ice Not Safe, Firefighters Rescue Pair from River

With daytime temperatures in the 30s, ice on rivers and lakes isn't strong enough for people to walk on. Two Anne Arundel County teens learned the lesson Sunday, but weren't seriously hurt, officials say.

Anne Arundel County firefighters were called to Jeronco Way in Pasadena about 2:30 p.m. Sunday to rescue two teens stuck on a sheet of ice about 25 feet from a pier on the Magothy River, reports WJZ TV. Temperatures were in the low 30s at the time and snow flurries were falling.

Fire Department spokesman Jack Beall says the teens stepped out onto ice from another nearby pier, but the ice they were standing on broke away.

Crews used an inflatable boat to bring the teens back to shore and the teens were treated for exposure.

Safety Tips

Ice on Maryland waterways rarely freezes evenly and solidly, warns the Baltimore County Fire Department on its website.

If you are with someone who falls through the ice, do not go on the ice to help. Instead:

• Call 911 as soon as possible.

• Mark the spot with a hat or a piece of clothing, so that if the victim becomes submerged rescuers have a point of reference. Time is of the essence with this sort of rescue.

• Then, reach, throw and row. If the victim is near enough to shore to reach a ladder, tree branch or pole, extend one of these toward him as quickly as possible and pull him to safety. Throw him a rope or a flotation device, if possible. Row toward him, if the water is clear and you have access to a boat. Again, do not leave the shore and venture into the water or onto the ice unless you have special water rescue training.

• If the victim can crawl out of the water and onto the ice, have him roll away from the crack and crawl on his belly to shore. Staying low distributes the body's weight on the ice and helps reduce the risk of the ice cracking.