As temperatures rise, the Winnipeg Police service wants to remind everyone to stay off open waterways.
Ice water Safety
- Drowning can occur at any time of the year
- Every year 1/3 of all drownings in Manitoba occur during the colder months, between October and April.
- Blue ice is clear and strong and the safest ice of all. The color of ice deepens with increasing thickness.
- You can only survive a few minutes in cold water
Tips:
- Check the weather and avoid going on thin ice on warm or stormy days
- Avoid vehicle travel on ice whenever possible
- Never go on ice alone
- Wear a buoyant suit or lifejacket whenever you are on the ice
- Avoid going on ice at night
- Keep away from unfamiliar paths or unknown ice
- Carry ice picks, ice poles, and a rope
What to do if you break through the ice?
- Don't panic - the clothes you're wearing will trap air and keep you buoyant.
- Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface.
- Kick your feet and try to push yourself forward on top of the unbroken ice on your stomach like a seal.
- Once you are lying on the ice, don't stand up. Roll away from the break until you're on solid ice.
For additional information, watch this short video https://youtu.be/bh678o2ItX0