More warnings needed to prevent winter drownings, study says
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LANSING - Ice-related drowning deaths are often associated with snowmobile use and are preventable, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan.
Research investigator Peter Larson, one of the authors of the study, said there are prevention methods for snowmobilers to avoid fatal accidents, like helmets and flotation suits.
Larson said that a major problem with winter drownings is the warming climate leading to unpredictability of ice thickness.
"People really need to be aware that the ice is not going to form the same way it did 20-30 years ago, and you have to be extremely careful when you're trying to go out on any ice," Larson said.
Larson said he worked closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to get information on fatalities for his research. He said the department is using this data to influence state policy.
That data tallied 70 ice-related deaths in Michigan between 2006 and 2024.
"Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles were involved in 17 deaths," according to the study published in the journal Injury Prevention.
"My opinion is that the state needs to send out messages about potential dangers of snowmobiles and the benefits of using things like flotation suits or helmets, just like any other sort of motor safety," Larson said.
"I haven't seen a whole lot of those messages coming out, and I think they're necessary at this point," Larson said.
"Participation in winter recreational activities, including hiking, snowmobiling and ice fishing during the winter, is becoming more popular," the study said.
"Increasing contact with lakes and other water bodies during the winter, combined with compromised ice quality, might result in increased risks for drownings," it said.
The Michigan Snowmobile and Off-Road Vehicle Association offers safety training in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources to encourage responsible snowmobile operation.
Karen Middendorp, the association's executive director, said that the state does not have designated snowmobile trails on frozen bodies of water, and riders should never assume that water is safe to cross, even if they see snowmobile tracks.
Kalkaska County Undersheriff Regan Foerster said that it is common for his office to receive a couple of calls a year about people falling through the ice.
He said that while local residents are more aware of snow and ice safety than visitors, it is still a topic that his office works with the DNR to share information on.
"The people from further south don't get the temperatures like we do and don't get the snowfall, but then they come up here for recreation, which we love. But they haven't seen the conditions evolving every day and hour like we have," Foerster said.
Foerster said it is important for snowmobilers to travel in groups when possible or let people know where they are and when they will be back.
While he said there are DNR snowmobile safety officers on the trails, Foerster said it is important for snowmobilers to know how to stay safe themselves, especially when going off trail and onto ice.