Any presence of a person on the ice always poses a danger to them.
Any presence of a person on the ice always poses a danger to them.
Ice on rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water becomes solid only during the period of complete winter ice formation. However, even in winter, there are plenty of dangerous places for skating and crossing. These include: thin ice areas formed by fast river currents, underground springs emerging to the surface, and warm water discharges from industrial enterprises, ice holes, fishing holes, and ice-cutting sites.
Before venturing onto the ice, check the area where the ice meets the bank – there may be thin ice areas or snowdrifts covering them. At river mouths, the ice strength is weakened due to currents.
Before starting to move and while moving on the ice, check its strength with improvised means (a pole, ski pole, etc.), and in no case by stamping your feet on the ice.
When crossing a river (lake) on skis, which is the safest method, be sure to remove the straps of your ski poles from your wrists. It is best to move along a packed ski track.
For anglers:
Do not gather in large groups, minimise the number of adjacent drilled holes, and always have a rope 10-12 m long at hand.
If you fall through the ice:
- Spread your arms wide along the ice edge to avoid submerging your head;
- if possible, move towards the edge of the ice hole where the current does not pull you under;
- try not to break the edge, get out onto the ice without sudden movements, crawling on your chest and alternately pulling your legs out onto the surface, spreading them wide;
- adapt your body to the widest possible support area;
- once out of the ice hole, roll away, and then crawl in the direction you came from.
A person has fallen through the ice, and you are a witness:
- shout to him immediately that you are coming to help;
- approach the ice-hole crawling, with your arms spread wide;
- place skis, plywood, or a board under yourself to increase the support area and crawl on them;
- do not crawl right up to the edge of the ice-hole, otherwise you yourself will end up in the water;
- belts and scarves, any board, skis, sledges will help you save a person;
- throw tied objects 3-4 m before the victim;
- if you are not alone, then, holding each other by the legs, lie down on the ice in a chain and move towards the break;
- act decisively and quickly, the victim is freezing in the icy water, wet clothes are pulling him down;
- having provided the victim with an improvised means, pull him onto the ice and crawl away from the danger zone.
Do not take unnecessary risks, your life is in your hands!