By order of the Lepel Executive Committee No. 332r dated 23.11.2015, going out on the ice is prohibited within the district during the ice formation period, as well as during the period of intensive melting and ice destruction.
By order of the Lepel Executive Committee No. 332r dated 23.11.2015, going out on the ice is prohibited within the district during the ice formation period, as well as during the period of intensive melting and ice destruction. Currently, there is no ice cover, but in the near future, rivers and lakes will begin to be covered with a thin crust of ice, which will lead to amateur fishermen and children going out onto the water bodies. Ice can be considered safe if its thickness is at least 7 centimetres for a person and 20 centimetres for a group of people. The ice thickness is not uniform everywhere. Extremely dangerous areas of the water body include: near the shoreline, near the outlets of factory and farm drainage pipes, in places where springs emerge, streams and rivers flow in, in areas of snow accumulation, near reeds and rushes. If the ice breaks and you fall into the water:
- do not panic;
- try to discard heavy items;
- turn in the direction you came from – the ice there has already supported your weight;
- lean on the edge of the ice floe with your hands spread wide;
- in case of a strong current, try to bend your legs;
- lean on the edge of the ice floe with your chest, try to pull yourself up and alternately pull your legs onto the ice floe;
- after getting out of the water onto the ice, do not stand up and run immediately – move towards the shore by crawling or rolling.
When providing assistance:
- inform the victim by shouting that you are coming to help – this will give them strength, call the rescue service by dialling "101";
- approach the ice hole cautiously, crawling on your stomach. At a distance of 3-4 metres, hand the victim any available item (scarf, stick, etc.);
- after removing the victim from the water, warm them up: wring out wet clothes or change into dry ones, wrap them in a blanket.
It should be remembered that a person can die from hypothermia 15-20 minutes after falling into icy water.