Manitouwadge Volunteer Fire Department offers important guidelines should you fall in the ice

MANITOUWADGE — Falling through the ice is not something that anyone can truly be ready for and most hope it never happens. But the Manitouwadge Volunteer Fire Department wanted to give people important life-saving information.

Here is an overview of what they suggest one should do if you fall through the ice.

1. Do not breathe in the water.
2. Orient yourself and get back to where you fell through.
3. Don’t try to pull yourself straight up.
4. Lie flat on the ice and roll away.
5. If you can’t get out stop thrashing to conserve heat and to avoid exhaustion.
6. If your friend falls through call 911 and coach them through this process.

With ice fishing being such a popular sport and with so many townships in the region participating in Ontario’s Ice Fishing Challenge in the month of February, these are truly important guidelines to follow.