Those are all really good things to know! Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread! I have a lot of common sense, but it is good to know all these things before I start ice fishing! 
Jeremy
Here are a couple of my hints…
1- When I pull my sled, I attach a 40 foot rope to the sled and loop the other around my waist. If I go in the drink, I’ll have something to pull myself out with. I also, have a pair of ice spikes as well. One thing about the ice spikes worth mentioning is to wear them on the inside of your coat/snowsuit and have them dangle out of your arm holes. It doesn’t do you much good to fall through the ice and have the concussion of the water/ice knock them off the back of your neck.
2- not really a safety issue but a tip… I always take an extra pair of socks and a plastic garbage bag w/ me in the event that one of my kids (or myself) falls into a hole. I’ve had 2 kids step into a hole and I just take off their boot, put on the dry sock(s), place plastic bag over sock, and then put the boot back on. It’s not the ideal situation to put on a cold, wet boot, but it’s saved 2 trips and allowed us to continue fishing!
Gaeter
As i mentioned when we met at Yuba, I went swimming last week… The ice pics around my neck may have been the difference between a funny story and a not so funny story… BUT… when ice pics are new they are very difficult to get apart, mine are a few years old and almost fall apart on there own… it is difficult to tread water in 2000gram thinsulate rubber boots and sogged clothing so you have to use one hand to keep afloat (at first the air trapped in your clothes helps, but it finds its way out pretty quick)… if your pics are new, ream them a bit so you can pull them apart with one hand yet not so loose they fall off…
When your logical brain tells your fishin brain the ice looks thin… listen 
my $.02
Some good ice fishing safety tips here – bump.
Thanks for the post–valuable information!
Thanks Lloyd. A 2 year old post but always good to review the basics.
I am sure you know enough to always send the big guy (me) ahead of you on the ice. If he goes through you may not be able to get him back out but at least you didn’t go in too. Right?
If you fish on the Blacks Fork Arm of Flaming Gorge, there are also some warm springs. Look for snow melted on the ice or cleaner,clear ice. Also, I’ve been on 8" to 12" of ice on the Blacks Fork Arm and have seen only small holes about the size of a beer can that were water. BE CAREFUL AND HAVE FUN!
One other warning when taking small children onto the ice. A 3-5 year old will actually go through an 8" diameter hole, so watch them carefully. I had my daughter almost go through a hole up to Deer Creek when she was 3. Fortunatly, she only put one leg through, but I have seen small kids jump with both feet on old holes, not a good move.
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A very good one is–If you have to give alot of thought --STAY OFF !!! Don’t take needless chances !! When the lake talks to you ,this a good thing .. It means that ice is being made !!! Happy Fishing !!