Everyone enjoys the awakening of nature, the spring birdsong, and the gentle sun. "Ice lasts until warmth," says the proverb. However, spring is not always a cause for joy. The flood period demands order, caution, and adherence to safety rules on ice and water.
During the spring flood, the ice on water bodies 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 one's head, even if it appears solid. Such ice cannot support a person's weight. The ice disintegration process is fastest near the banks; spring ice covered with snow quickly turns into a loose mass, and this ice is very dangerous. In 2025 alone, from January to March, 5 citizens drowned on the territory of the Vitebsk region while ice fishing.
We would like to remind citizens once again that during the spring flood and ice drift period, it is prohibited: to go out on water bodies; to cross rivers during the ice drift; it is extremely dangerous to approach the river closely in places of ice jams; to stand on steep banks subject to flooding and collapse; to approach ice jams; to push ice floes away from the banks; to walk on ice floes and ride on them.
The greatest danger during the ice melting period is to children. Left unsupervised by their parents, children go out on the ice and try to break it with their feet, or ride on ice floes. Such carelessness can sometimes end tragically.
We would like to remind parents once again to increase supervision of their children during the intensive ice melting period and not to leave them unattended near water bodies.
If you witness an incident, do not remain indifferent, immediately call rescuers for assistance on telephones 101, 112, reporting what happened. Do not be afraid to provide assistance; if done correctly, the person can be saved. Crawl to the victim, 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 through and help them get out. Then, crawl back in the same manner. Under no circumstances should you stand on the ice; it may break again, and you risk falling into the water.
Take care of yourself and your children!
Head of the Lepel
Rescue Station I.A. Mikhno