Coast Guard Trains For Ice Rescues, Warns Anglers To Stay Away From Marine Traffic

DULUTH, Minn. — As many anglers are excited to get out onto the ice now that the cold air has moved in. But the U.S. Coast Guard in Duluth is getting ready for ice rescues.

Currents still flow underneath the ice and weaken areas that may seem safe.

To prepare for the unexpected, Coast Guard members regularly practice ice rescue training on the shoreline of Lake Superior. They say in the case of an ice break, you have about one minute to catch your breath, 10 minutes of movement before you lose feelings in your hands, and about an hour before you lose consciousness.

“A lot of people are wearing big heavy coats, big heavy clothes, it’s going to fill up with water really quick. So having something like screwdriver,” said Austin Frye, a Boatswain Mate, 2nd Class with the U.S. Coast Guard. “Or ice picks, even having a life jacket, just anything that can help you get out of that water is going to be vital to being able to survive if you fall in.”

Anglers off the coast of Duluth must also be weary of any marine traffic. Even as the ice freezes over the Duluth-Superior port remains active for incoming freighters and ships.

“So with tents and stuff being set up out there, you have to be very careful of where you are and not obstruct the shipping channel, because if I mean they come through at night, they’re not going to see you, they’re going to run you over.”

The Coast Guard does broadcast several hours in advance of big ships coming into the harbor.