STUDENTS GET FIRST-HAND LESSON IN ICE SAFETY

Middle School students in the afternoon BLAST program learned about Ice Safety in preparation for the Adventure Club’s upcoming ice fishing trip, from a real expert: Deputy Steve Foster of Branch County Sheriff’s Department. Thursday, January 22, Deputy Foster spoke to over four dozen kids and adults, giving examples from his own long history with the BCSD Diving Team. Deputy Foster gave descriptions of the various types of ice, and how to tell whether ice is “safe” or not; he emphasized that while there is no such thing as “Safe Ice” (unless it’s in a glass!), there are many ways to be prepared for safety. “If you’re going to be on the ice, at some point, some day, you WILL get wet,” he told the students. “The important thing is to be ready and know what to do if you or someone else does go in.”

Deputy Foster stressed that the most important thing is to never go on the ice alone. After that, the most important thing to remember, and sometimes the hardest, is to NOT PANIC. He reminded them to never go on bad ice to save someone, toss a rope or hand them something (even your fishing pole, the hook hurts less than the freezing water!) to help pull them out of the water and onto the ice. If you do go into the water, he explained how to get out onto the ice, how to stay warm until you do get out, and how to spread out on the ice to minimize breakage when you get out. Deputy Foster explained the different ways to stay warm, between wearing a life jacket and not wearing one; and reminded them that the safest way back to shore is usually the same way that you went out, so go back the way you came.

Val Rossman will be taking the Adventure Club on an ice-fishing trip the first Thursday in February (weather permitting). They have been busy building their own ice-fishing poles, and with this lecture on ice safety they are now ready to go! Linda and Bob Burgett of Hank’s Landing have generously donated tackle and supplies to this project and the kids in Adventure Club are very appreciative of their assistance.

Community Unlimited’s 21st Century BLAST program runs at all three Union City schools. Before-school activities run from 6:45 to 7:45 AM, and after-school activities from 2:50 to 4:50 PM. Students can sign up for either or both sessions. For more information you may contact Youth Director Julie Dibert at Community Unlimited, (517) 741-4656; or visit the website at www.communityunlimited.org. Community Unlimited is a nonprofit organization funded in part by Michigan Department of Education 21st Century Learning Centers; Community Foundation Alliance of Calhoun County; Branch County United Way; United Way of Greater Battle Creek; and receives in-kind support from Union City Schools and the Village of Union City. Donations are tax-deductible.