Everyone enjoys the awakening of nature, the spring birdsong, and the gentle sun. "All ice lasts until the warmth," says the proverb. However, spring is not always a joy. The flood period demands order, caution, and adherence to safety rules for behaviour on ice and water.

The ice on water bodies during the spring flood becomes loose, "eaten" from above by the sun and meltwater, and undermined from below by the current. It is very dangerous to walk on it; at any moment, it can crumble underfoot and close over your head, even though it may look solid. Such ice cannot withstand a person's weight. The ice disintegration process is fastest near the banks; spring ice covered with snow quickly turns into a loose mass.

During the spring flood and ice drift, it is prohibited to: go out onto water bodies; cross rivers during ice drift; approach the river closely in places of ice jams is extremely dangerous; stand on a steep bank subject to flooding and collapse; approach ice jams; push ice floes away from the banks; measure the depth of a river or any water body; walk on ice floes and ride on them. If the ice breaks under you and there is no one nearby – do not panic, spread your arms wide, lean on the edge of the ice hole, and slowly lying on your stomach or back, get out onto the solid ice in the direction you came from.
If you witness an incident, do not be indifferent; immediately call rescuers for assistance by dialling 101 or 112, reporting what happened. Do not be afraid to offer help; if done correctly, the person can be saved. Crawl towards the victim on your stomach, spreading your legs and arms wide, then using improvised means (a long stick, board, rope, scarf, etc.) extend them to the person who has fallen in and help them get out. Then crawl back in the same way. Under no circumstances should you stand on the ice; it may break again, and you risk falling into the water.

Adherence to elementary safety measures on water bodies during the flood period will allow you to make your recreation safe.

Head of the Lepel Rescue Station Mikhno I.A.