‘GMA’s Ginger Zee Takes Daring Plunge to Demonstrate Winter Weather Safety

Ginger Zee threw herself into the deep end during her latest weather segment on Good Morning America.

In a prerecorded package aired on the show’s Tuesday, March 3, episode, Zee taught viewers about the importance of being safe on frozen bodies of water. “From falling through it to rescuing someone in it, icy water under frozen rivers and lakes can be deadly,” she stated. “So, we came here to Logansport, Indiana, and this huge frozen quarry. But how can you tell how thick the ice is? And what if I were to fall in? How do you survive?”

Sgt. Kris Fitzgerald, the Underwater Search and Rescue Team Coordinator for the Indiana State Police, told Zee that people often “don’t realize how thick or how thin the ice is,” which can cause them to “get trapped underneath” or hit their heads “on the way down.”

Zee stated that 4 inches is the minimum ice thickness that is safe to stand on, and that people should test ice thickness every 100 feet, as thickness can vary across bodies of water.

During the segment, Zee acted as the rescuer in an ice recovery demonstration. After calling 9-1-1, Zee said people should inform individuals trapped in the ice how to self-rescue and find something for the person to latch onto to help pull them out. Having a canoe or another boat nearby is also helpful if the ice continues to break.

Zee later experienced falling through ice herself, with rescue divers and an ambulance on standby. “So, here we go. I’m walking along, and you just step in,” Zee said before jumping in. “Oh, yes, absolutely shock. And let me go ahead and come over to you if I can, ‘cause I feel like my legs already can’t move, but that might just be my brain telling me that.”

According to Zee, falling through is the moment “most people panic.” She emphasized the importance of the “1:10:1 rule,” explaining that people should take one minute to calm themselves down, will have 10 minutes of “meaningful movement,” and will have one hour before hypothermia sets in.

“Oh, my goodness. It feels like bones breaking in this water,” a chilly Zee shouted. She proceeded to demonstrate the proper way to get out of the water, noting not to push yourself up like getting out of a pool. Instead, place your chest and arms out as far as you can on the surface of the ice and kick to propel yourself up. “You can almost birth yourself like a seal or a whale onto the ice,” Zee stated.

Once on the surface, one can crawl or roll themselves to safety.

Back in the GMA studio, Zee shared more important ice safety tips. “If you fall through the ice, turn back in the direction you came from, because just a step or two earlier, that ice did hold your weight. So, that would be the strongest place,” she shared. “And I can’t stress it enough, ‘If you don’t know, don’t go.’ And please tell your kids because, again, we’re kind or working with generations of folks that maybe haven’t run into this ice, and it’s important to remember.”

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Zee shared behind-the-scenes photos from filming the segment via her Instagram page, and fans praised her bravery in the post‘s comments. “They better put some RESPECT on your name GINGER ZEE Is an absolute ROCK Star!!” one person complimented. “That ice jump was no joke, you handled it like a boss. You truly Walk the WALK!! Wow .”

Someone else shared, “Yikes! Get yourself a hot chocolate asap.” Another added, “So important to know, thank you! My friend’s son fell through ice in a retention pond. He made it out and used the experience to educate others. Thank you!!!”

Good Morning America, Weekdays, 7a.m./6c, ABC

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