Winter drowning prevention: Ice colour and the ‘1-10-1’ rule

A frozen lake.

Following the drowning of a man in his 40s and a three-year-old child in the Saint-Zénon region, Quebec’s Lifesaving Society is reminding people of numerous safety rules that must be followed when engaging in winter ice activities.

It was a sombre Christmas Day for the loved ones of the two victims, whose deaths were confirmed by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) on Thursday.

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This comes one day after the man and the young child were clearing snow with a tractor around Lake Ernest when the ice gave way.

A coroner’s inquest was immediately launched to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident and to request recommendations to prevent similar scenarios from happening again.

The Quebec Lifesaving Society, whose mandate is to raise public awareness to prevent drownings, says it records an average of six to eight winter drownings per year.

So far in 2025, six people have lost their lives in Quebec’s icy waters.

The two deaths in Saint-Zénon are in addition to three other drownings earlier this year, as well as the death of a snowmobiler on Dec. 15.

“Far be it from us to tell people that they can’t do activities on the ice, quite the contrary, but you have to make sure you check certain information before venturing out there,” explains Raynald Hawkins, executive director of the society.

He points out that colour and thickness of the ice are the two most important safety indicators.

As a general rule, if the ice is black and you can see the bottom of the lake, it is safe to walk on, as this is the result of at least seven to ten consecutive days of below -10 degrees Celsius weather, accompanied by cold nights.

“Just to walk on this ice, it needs to be at least 10 centimetres thick,” said Hawkins, adding that the measurement varies depending on the type of activity, the number of people and the overall weight on the ice.

For example, to support a snowmobile, the ice must be 12 to 15 centimetres thick, while to set up a fishing hut, it must be between 30 and 38 centimetres thick.

Hawkins advises against venturing onto grey ice as it is often a mixture of frozen and liquid water, which can make it brittle.

When the ice surface is “whitish” in colour, it is safe to walk, provided it is twice as thick as the recommended thickness for translucent ice, warns the director general.

Surviving a fall

For anyone who should fall into icy water, Hawkins insists that the first step is to always contact emergency services at 911 when possible.

“Increasingly, our firefighters are trained in ice rescue. They are equipped to rescue people as quickly as possible when they are in cold water,” he said.

An onlooker could also lend a helping hand, but it is advisable to keep a safe distance to avoid breaking the ice under your feet, too.

In these situations, people should spread their weight by lying down on the ice and extending a long object, such as a hockey stick, for the person in distress to grab onto.

Another important rule to remember is “1-10-1,” Hawkins emphasizes.

When you fall into icy water, your body undergoes thermal shock, which triggers hyperventilation.

“You feel your respiratory system wanting to go faster to activate circulation,” he said, noting the first “1” represents one minute, the time a person has to calm their breathing before losing consciousness.

“The 10 is 10 minutes of muscle strength ahead of you,” said Hawkins, explaining that this window of time allows a person to get out of the water before losing all their energy.

“Ideally, I would advise you to turn towards where you came from because there are a few centimetres or a few steps where the ice can support you,” advised Hawkins.

He suggests swimming while punching the ice with your fist until it no longer breaks.

This indicates that you have reached a more solid surface, where you can attempt to lift your body out of the water while crawling.

“Once you’re completely out, this is not the time to stand up,” warns Hawkins. To avoid breaking the ice again, he recommends retracing your steps on all fours.

The last “1” indicates that a person can remain in cold water for one hour before dying of hypothermia.

Hawkins is also reminding all residents who live near frozen lakes to stay close to the shore, where the water freezes more easily.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 26, 2025.