I carry grips with steel pegs that are attached by a coil when I go skimobiling. You can find them on line fairly easily. The trick is to keep them handy, while also keeping them out of the way in case you crash (they are sharp).
RG: I strongly recommend you and anyone else who is on the lake in the winter get them. See below:
Ice fishermen or anyone who spends a lot of time on
the ice should always carry ice claws or ice picks. These
pieces of equipment must be attached to your body at all
times so if you fall through the ice you will be able to
reach them quickly. You can purchase these necessary
pieces of equipment from various companies or you can
make them yourself. Simply put, they are a pair of wood
handles with a nail driven into one end sharpened to a
point like an ice pick. Next, attach an eyelet screw or loop
or drill a hole through the handle with a length of strong
rope tying the two handles together. Two sharpened screw-
drivers tied together with a length of strong rope will
work too. If you are a victim of falling through the ice,
use the claws or picks to aid in your rescue. Stab the ice
claws into firm ice, pulling with your arms while scissor
kicking (like swimming) with your legs to get back on
top of the ice.
Drownings happen in a matter of seconds. By you knowing what to
do and by teaching children what to do, their chance of
surviving an accidental falling through the ice increases.
If you think that falling into the icy water is no big
deal, try submerging your bare hands or feet into a bucket
of ice-cold water. If you can last more than a few minutes
without extreme pain, you are tougher than the average
person. The body reacts immediately to the cold and can
start shutting down to conserve energy and heat. Act
promptly and quickly while staying calm and your chances
of survival will increase.
Rescue Procedures
What If You Fall into the Water?
The most important thing is to stay calm and always
look and work your way toward the shore (remember the
weakest ice is in the center of the water body). Call out
for help to others if they are close by. Place your hands
up on the unbroken ice. This is why ice claws or ice picks
are excellent safety devices to carry with you. Try to
swim onto the ice by pulling with your hands and ice
claws, and by kicking your legs. If the ice breaks, keep
trying. Once upon the ice, do not stand up. Distribute
your weight out over a larger area by crawling, sliding,
or rolling toward shore following your tracks made going
out on the ice as you know the ice was safe to the point
where you fell in.
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