RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

December 29, 2005
CONCERNS FOR WALKERS AND SLEDGERS AS BIG FREEZE CONTINUES

As the big freeze continues across many parts of the UK, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is warning people to stay off frozen waterways and to take care when sledging.

Sadly fatalities often occur when people are out and about enjoying themselves in the cold weather. With children still on school holidays, parents need to warn them about the dangers while still ensuring they have a good time.

Peter Cornall, RoSPA Head of Water and Leisure Safety, said: “We don’t want fun in the snow to turn to tragedy. People can enjoy themselves quite safely, if they take a few simple precautions.

“You should not even test the thickness of the ice on frozen waterways with your toe. As soon as you take a step onto a frozen lake you are risking your life. There is no way of knowing how thick the ice is. If it gives way, you have almost no chance of survival in the freezing water.

“One of the biggest problems is with dog owners whose pets dash across the ice. The pets usually survive, but the owners die when they go out to try to bring them back. Dogs need to be kept on a lead if they are near to frozen water.”

Around 20 people have drowned falling through ice in the last decade and a man died in a sledging accident earlier this year.

RoSPA’s tips for safe sledging are:

• Never travel head-first
• Choose a safe place to sledge with deep snow and no obstructions such as trees or stones
• Do not sledge near roads or pavements or near water, whether frozen or not
• Make sure you have plenty of room at the end of the run to slow down and stop
• Only go sledging in daylight
• Wear suitable clothing – skateboard helmets and pads double up well for tobogganing

People responsible for areas of water to which the public have access, and which 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 and at www.rospa.com/waterandleisuresafety/factsheets/icesafety.htm