Ever worried about falling through the ice into the frigid waters of a lake or river? Many people who fish on frozen water or drive a snowmobile or car onto a frozen lake have a healthy fear of falling through thin ice or an open spot in the ice.

So what would compel someone to intentionally submerge herself under the ice?

Investigative reporter Trish Van Pilsum wanted to help people who may find themselves in that scary, life-threatening situation. So she decided to experience the situation firsthand- i.e., being in a car as it is submerged in an icy lake. "Ice is unpredictable," she said. "People need to be aware and be prepared."

After Van Pilsum started researching the story idea, two young people fell through the ice on Lake Minnetonka and died. "Besides my personal passion for doing the story, when the two people died, it was almost like it was a sign [that I should do the story]."

While she worked with a diver using an air tank, and had an air tank for herself, it was a frightening experience nonetheless. She also took a few diving lessons in a pool beforehand.

"I still can't believe I did it," she said. "It was the most terrified I've ever been. This situation- going under the ice- was a core fear of mine." And that's from a reporter who has crawled through a burning house in pursuit of a story.

Van Pilsum won't ever forget that cold January day when taping took place. The wind chill was 30 degrees below zero. It took several hours for the crew to get the equipment set up. "It was very unpleasant to wait," she said. "I saw the car I was going to be in. I was so frightened, I couldn't speak."

Many viewers still remember the segment and comment on it when they meet Van Pilsum. "People appreciate the lengths you went to give them the story," she said. "It would be very easy to have done it the traditional way and have nothing. But this approach made people watch and remember. I wanted people who went out on the ice to think of me and be aware of what can happen.

"I have a responsibility to give people the information they need, and changing the way people look at the world," she continued. "That story defined what kind of reporter I would be at Channel 9."

STAY SAFE ON ICE

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends the following minimum thicknesses for safe travel on ice. Never ignore posted signs about ice safety.

These Thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.

The Minesota DNR also provides the following recommendations.

• Check for known thin ice areas with a local resort or bait shop. Test the thickness yourself using an ice chisel, ice auger or even a cordless 1⁄4-inch drill with a long bit.
• Refrain from driving on the ice whenever possible. If you must drive a vehicle, be prepared to leave it in a hurry: Keep windows down, unbuckle your seat belt and have a simple emergency plan of action you have discussed with your passengers.
  
• Don't "overdrive" your snowmobile's headlight. At even 30 miles per hour, it can take a much longer distance to stop on ice than your headlight shines. Many fatal snowmobile through-the-ice accidents occur because the machine was traveling too fast for the operator to stop when the headlamp illuminated the hole in the ice.
  
• Stay away from alcoholic beverages. Even "just a couple of beers" are enough to cause a careless error in judgment that could cost you your life. And contrary to common belief, alcohol actually makes you colder rather than warming you up.
• Wear a life vest under your winter gear. Or wear one of the new flotation snowmobile suits. And it's a good idea to carry a pair of ice picks that may be homemade or purchased from most wellstocked sporting goods stores that cater to winter anglers. It's amazing how difficult it can be to pull yourself back onto the surface of unbroken but wet and slippery ice while wearing a snowmobile suit weighted down with 60 pounds of water. The ice picks really help in pulling yourself back onto solid ice. CAUTION: DO NOT wear a flotation device when traveling across the ice in an enclosed vehicle!
  

Directions for making ice rescue claws can be found at www.dnr.state. mn.us/safety/ice/claws.html. For information on what to do when you or a companion falls through the ice, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/ index.html.

By Lakestyle Staff