Every year 25-30 Canadians die in ice-related incidents, and countless others fall through ice, often having a close brush with death!
Here are some helpful tips to help you stay safe:
- Always stay a safe distance back from riverbanks and lakeshores to avoid accidentally falling through the ice.
- Don’t walk on ice-covered bodies of water, including storm ponds. It’s difficult to assess the thickness of the ice and whether it can hold the weight of a person or animal.
- If a person or an animal falls through the ice into water, call 9-1-1. Don’t try to rescue them yourself. Encourage them to kick, pull themselves up onto the ice and roll, rather than walk, towards the shore.
- When skating outdoors, only skate on open ice surfaces specifically designated for skating like City of Calgary or community rinks.
If you fall through the ice:
- Stay calm, try to keep your head out of the water and control your breathing.
- Try to pull yourself up onto the ice and onto your stomach then, roll towards the shore, where the ice may be thicker.
- If you can’t get out of the water in less than 10 minutes, stop kicking and trying to pull yourself out, and anchor yourself to the ice shelf. Continue to call for help.
If you witness a person falling through the ice stay back, do not go onto the ice. Call 9-1-1.
For more ice safety information, visit: https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Fire/Pages/Safety-tips/Ice-safety.aspx
