The Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging citizens using the state’s lakes and rivers this winter to use caution.
Captain John Hotz offers three reasons people would be out on and around the water during the colder months.
“This time of year we see people who either are going out for, say fishing activities, or some of them like to go out and skate on the ice and that sort of thing. Or even some people repairing their deck or trying to clear off either snow or ice on their deck,” Hotz says.
He says taking extra precautions could prove lifesaving.
“This time of the year particularly when you’re near water or ice, I would recommend that people have a life jacket on just in case they should inadvertently end up in the water, I would also encourage people to make sure that somebody else goes with them.”
He adds that even with a flotation device severe cold exposure can quickly lead to hypothermia, so it is important to never go alone.
Hotz reminds water sport enthusiasts that ice can be very unpredictable this time of year because of varying temperatures, and what looks like solid ice could be rather thin. View the patrol’s water division website for more information and safety tips.