Caution! Thin ice!

December 27, 2022

With the onset of winter and negative temperatures, going out on thin ice becomes a relevant safety issue for citizens. Fishermen rushing for the first winter catch and children are particularly often reported as having fallen through. The actions of the latter should be supervised by adults, and they, in turn, should show by their own example that one should not wait for strong ice.

With the onset of winter and negative temperatures, going out on thin ice becomes a relevant safety issue for citizens. Fishermen rushing for the first winter catch and children are particularly often reported as having fallen through. The actions of the latter should be supervised by adults, and they, in turn, should show by their own example that one should not wait for strong ice.

It is important to remember that for safe solo presence on the ice, its thickness should be at least 7 centimeters! For a small group of people to gather in one place, it is desirable for the ice to be at least 10 cm thick. The strongest ice has a greenish or blue hue, while weak ice is dirty brown, white, and grayish-brown.

Before going out on the ice, even if it is quite strong, it is best to take self-rescue equipment with you. A rope, stick, board, knife, or life jacket can be used for this purpose. It is important to wear the necessary equipment in such a way that it can be quickly removed.

It is also important to remember a number of other rules for safe behavior:

·     Do not go out on the ice unless necessary;

·     Before going out on the ice, make sure it is strong;

·     If you need to cross a body of water, try to do so only in good visibility;

·     Do not walk on ice along the shoreline, in places where streams and rivers flow in, where snow accumulates, near factory and farm outlets, or in thickets of reeds and bushes;

·     Walk carefully, without lifting your soles off the ice, checking the ice in front of you with a stick;

·     Do not go onto the ice in fog, snowfall, or rain.

If you fall through the ice:

·     Do not panic;

·     Call for help;

·     Try not to submerge your head in the water;

·     Get out in the direction you fell;

·     Spread your arms and crawl onto the ice on your chest;

·     Throw a leg onto the ice and roll away from the hole;

·     Once out of the water, do not rush to stand up, so as not to fall through again – crawl to the shore along your tracks.