Is it safe to jump in a cold lake?

The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone creates a greater risk of drowning even for confident swimmers in calm waters. In rougher open water this danger increases. Unplanned immersion in cold water can be life-threatening for anyone without protection from the temperatures or a lifejacket to help you stay afloat.



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Our bodies adjust best to the cold water if you slowly wade in. A quick entry into especially cold water can be a shock that leaves you gasping and could lead to drowning. A slow entry is key. Once you're up to your shoulders, dunk in all the way a few times and you're good to go.

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According to the National Center for Cold Water Safety, water temperatures below 70 degrees Fahrenheit should be treated with caution. Water temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit makes it difficult to control your breathing, and anything lower than 40 degrees is painfully cold.

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Cracks, breaks, holes, weak spots or abnormal surfaces are indicators the ice is not suitable to walk on. Other signs of danger are flowing water near or at the edges of the ice, and ice that appears to have thawed and refrozen.

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Great Lakes that have completely frozen include Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake to have never frozen entirely.

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