RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
January 18, 2001
ICE WARNING TO WALKERS AS FREEZE CONTINUES
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is warning people to stay off the ice this weekend as the big freeze continues. Dog owners are particularly at risk.
Two children died when they went through the ice on a frozen lake in Ireland three weeks ago and others had narrow escapes. The last time there was a severe cold spell in Britain eight people died in ice-related drownings.
Peter Cornall, RoSPA Head of Water Safety, said: "It is vital that people do not step out on frozen waterways. People love to go walking at this time of year, but they should steer well clear of frozen ponds, canals, rivers and lakes. It is not safe even to put your toe on to the ice to test the thickness.
"One of the biggest problems is with dog owners whose pets run out on to frozen water. The pets usually survive, but their owners die when they go out to try to fetch them back. Dogs need to be kept on a lead if they are near frozen water."
The ice can look very inviting, particularly to children who want to try their hand at skating, but as soon as you take the first step on a frozen lake you are risking your life. There is no way of knowing how thick the ice is. Even strong swimmers will swiftly succumb to freezing water."
A bitterly cold spell in 1996/97 saw eight people die in ice-related drownings - five of those who died were trying to rescue dogs.
"If you do spot someone who has fallen through ice, you may be able to help by reaching out to them from the bank or throwing something which can be used to haul them back to land - but stay out of the water yourself and be sure there is no chance of toppling in, " Peter Cornall said.
"Alerting the emergency services as quickly as possible is the best thing that you can do."
People responsible for areas of water to which the public have access, and are susceptible to freezing over, should ensure there are warning signs about ice, increase supervision of the area and use the media to advise of the dangers. Guidance is available in the RoSPA document Safety at Inland Water Sites.
