I've never gone thru but do take necessary precautions. Another critical piece of gear you shoud have is a noise making device. I keep a whistle on my co2 inflatable vest and keep the ice pics around my neck. A small canned sound horn is also good. The sound making device is necessary of course if nobody is close enough to see or hear you go thru. It would be ashame to struggle to get out by yourself while your buddies are in the ice shack and have no idea you have gone thru.