Talk'n 'bout drown'n while snomo'n cross a froz'n lake: here's an el cheapo swimmer's/pfd belt that really works and is also light weight and easy to wear.
All you need is a thin foam swimmer's noodle that has a hole running down through the length of the noodle, and thread a 3/8 or 1/2" sturdy line down through it to make yourself a swimmer's belt/pfd. Tie it off somewhat tight with a square knot, around your waist, and under your outer coat.
Should you have the bad luck to crash through the ice, just knowing you have flotation will dramatically increase your safety, because it will make you much less likely to panic, and panic is a big factor for drowning to happen. Plus, it will keep your head above water which of course makes all the difference.
People can stay alive in 34-degree water, over their head depth, for 90-minutes, and survive after they get thawed out, which is a painful thawing process similar to having frozen hands ..... just don't panic.
Carrying a loud whistle is good, too.
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... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!
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