Sheriff Issues Thin Ice Advisory for Hennepin County

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to stay off all bodies of water due to several areas of open water and/or thin ice. Due to a warm fall, ice is still forming on many bodies of water throughout the county, and ice thickness can vary greatly throughout a single body of water, according to county officials.

Several smaller bodies of water may appear to have a safe ice thickness, however they should still be considered unsafe even to walk on, according to a news release.

“I know many people are excited to enjoy our frozen lakes and rivers for fishing or ice skating, but going out on the ice right now would be a life-threatening risk,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek in a statement. “This time of year it is also especially important to watch young children and pets when near water and thin ice.”

• Eagan Firefighters Rescue Two Dogs That Fell Through The Ice

Officials say parents and caregivers should teach children to stay away from thin ice and they should closely supervise children when they are near any body of water including lakes, rivers and ponds. Animal owners should keep their pet on a leash this time of year, and remember not to put their safety in jeopardy by walking on thin ice to retrieve a pet.

No amount of ice is ever considered 100 percent safe, county officials say. Four inches of ice is the recommended minimum thickness for walking and small group activities on ice. You are urged to take the following safety precautions:

• Never walk, snowmobile, or use an ATV on a channel. Check the ice thickness prior to attempting recreational activities.
• Do not venture onto the ice at night.
• Wear a life jacket.
• Keep your dog on a leash so that it doesn’t wander onto thin ice. You should not put your safety in jeopardy by following a dog onto thin ice.
• Carry safety gear such as ice picks and a rope to throw to someone who falls through the ice.

Image via Hennepin County Sheriff's Office