Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, a cold-water safety expert known as “Professor Popsicle,” speaks alongside officials from Lifesaving Society Manitoba, MPI, Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba RCMP during a media event in St. Vital Park on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (MPI / HANDOUT)
With warmer temperatures approaching, Manitoba Public Insurance is warning residents about the dangers of driving on ice roads, lakes, and frozen waterways.
In 2024, MPI received 22 claims for vehicles that broke through the ice, and so far in 2025, four similar incidents have been reported. The risks can be fatal, as cold-water submersion can lead to hypothermia or drowning. According to statistics, one-third of all drownings in Manitoba occur between October and April.
“Heading out onto the ice knowingly means you can take the steps to help protect yourself,” said Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, a cold-water safety expert known as “Professor Popsicle.”
“Ice road safety looks a little different than the safety precautions we normally take on the roadways. For example, if you are heading out onto ice, unfasten your seatbelt and open your window so you can quickly exit the vehicle if it goes through the ice. I use the term ‘SWOC’: Seatbelts off, Windows open, Out immediately, Children first. If you remember those four things, your chances of getting out of a submerged vehicle increase.”
A minimum of 10 cm is recommended for walking, 12 cm for an ATV or snowmobile, and 20-30 cm for a car. However, even thick ice can be unpredictable.
Lifesaving Society Manitoba also urges caution, recommending that those venturing onto the ice wear a life jacket over winter clothing, never travel alone, and always inform someone of their route and expected return time.
