MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - While ice fishing, snowmobiling, and skating are all popular activities in the winter, it is important to take precautions, especially with spring right around the corner.

Just as you would take precautions when driving a car, it’s important to take safety measures when out on the ice.

The DNR provides recommended guidelines when venturing out on the ice. Make sure to take someone with you if you can and spread out.

“Blue-ish ice is the strongest and safest ice to be out on; you want to be aware of any ice that’s snow covered, or has a milky type appearance because that indicates that ice isn’t very strong,” said Lt. Vernon Elliott of the Ingham County Sheriff's Department.

No matter how thick or cold the conditions are, always make sure to clear off any snow so the ice is visible

Whether it be for ice fishing, kitking, or simply enjoying the view, preventing an accident means making sure the thickness of the ice measures at least four inches.

“If you measure it in one spot, I mean that’s not necessarily how thick the ice is across the lake; and you wanna take frequent measurements and not just trust the one spot that you measured,” said Lt. Elliott.

Winter sports such as ice fishing kitking all require tools like ice picks and life jacket if an emergency were to occur.

“I have a wet suit and a life jacket, but right now I consider [the ice] very safe so I’m not going to bother with the life jacket,” said Dave Armovit, Winter Sports Enthusiast from Olmstead, MI.

Although ice conditions vary from lake to lake, Armovit claims the DNR says there is no such thing as "safe ice". If you were to fall through the ice, remain calm, call 911 and do not remove any clothing.

Despite the fact that the Sheriff’s Office has not heard of any reported accidents out on the ice this year, it’s better to be safe than sorry.