Out here in the scenic country landscape, winter brings along with it great benefits and activities that thousands of visitors and county residents alike partake in. In addition to sticking to familiar ground with things like skiing and snowshoeing, people love to put on their skates and spikes for some ice skating and ice fishing.

While both are very fun things to do when the weather is a consistent chill, it is always good to have a reminder out there to be extremely careful on the ice. It doesn’t matter if you’re the best swimmer alive or if you think yourself highly resistant to the cold; all of that changes when you hit the water – and then it becomes a huge problem.

If tragedy does strike, not only is your own life put in danger, but so will the numerous first responders lives who put everything on the line to make sure everyone makes it out alive and uninjured. Just recently on Christmas Eve in Putnam County, a young man fell through the ice on Dutchess Lake. The ice-water victim was reported to have suffered from hypothermia, a status that lingers with health scares even after the traumatic event has concluded. 

Thankfully, he was rescued by the local authorities and treated by medical professionals, but one decision by a single person needlessly changed the trajectory of so many on the eve of the holiday. We give our praise to those who showed up to help. If one thing is true, it’s that thin ice may crack and give out, but the strong-willed spirit of saving those in need will never break.

Here in Sullivan County, we are blessed to have access to the great outdoors that some can only dream of having, which includes larger bodies of water that often garner a good amount of ice. But sometimes a good amount is just not enough. Always be sure that if you are going to participate in being on the ice that the freezing reaches at least four inches into the water, and that you are never alone.

Be smart this winter. Missing out on fishing or skating a warm day on the ice is much better than taking that chance and possibly never making it home to tell of how you caught that big one or finally landed that one trick.