Karen Cohn Discusses Winter Ice Safety on News 12 Connecticut

Frozen ponds and lakes are drawing people outdoors across Connecticut, but winter recreation requires serious safety preparation. News 12 Connecticut recently featured The ZAC Foundation Co-Founder Karen Cohn to discuss essential ice safety protocols for families and communities.

Why Ice Safety Education Matters

While frozen waterways offer opportunities for skating and ice fishing, they also present significant drowning risks. Ice freezes unevenly, and what appears solid on the surface may be dangerously thin just feet away. Cold water immersion can trigger hypothermia within minutes, and the initial cold shock can cause people to gasp, inhale water, and drown.

What You Need to Know Before Going Out

Karen emphasized the importance of proper preparation before stepping onto any frozen body of water. This includes checking ice thickness regularly and bringing essential safety equipment like personal flotation devices and ice picks.

Equally critical is knowing what to do if someone falls through. The natural instinct to jump in can turn one emergency into two. Instead, call 911 immediately, lie down to distribute your weight across the ice, and reach or throw something to the person in the water.

As Karen reminded viewers, water safety doesn’t pause during winter months. Whether it’s summer swimming or winter ice activities, drowning prevention requires education, awareness, and preparation in every season.

Watch the full News 12 Connecticut interview.