The Dangers of Winter Water Bodies

In the past week, 2 people drowned in the water bodies of the Vitebsk region, and two others were rescued. Due to the predominantly positive temperatures in our region, the Braslav Emergency Ministry strongly recommends refraining from going onto the ice and reminds everyone of the rules for safe conduct on the ice.

Rules for Safe Behavior on Ice. Every year, thin ice leads to fatalities. Typically, among the deceased, children and fishermen are most often found. Accidents can be avoided by following safety rules. One of the most common causes of tragedies on water bodies is alcohol intoxication. People often react inadequately to danger and become helpless in emergencies. When going onto the ice, one must be extremely careful and observe safety measures!!! Ice is considered safe for a person if it is at least 7 centimeters thick in fresh water and 15 cm in salt water. In the mouths of rivers and tributaries, the strength of the ice is weakened. Ice is unreliable in areas with fast currents, spring flows, and drainage waters, as well as in regions with aquatic vegetation, near trees and reeds. If the air temperature remains above 0 degrees for more than three days, the strength of the ice decreases by 25%. The strength of the ice can be visually assessed: clear blue or green ice is strong, while white ice is half as strong. Ice with shades of gray, matte white, or yellow is the most unreliable. Such ice collapses without warning. Rules of conduct on the ice: Do not allow children onto the ice (for fishing, skiing, skating) without adult supervision. It is forbidden to go onto the ice at night and in poor visibility (fog, snow, rain). When crossing a river, use organized ice crossings. When forced to cross a water body, it is safest to stick to well-trodden paths or follow an already laid ski track. If none are available, one should carefully look around and outline the upcoming route before descending onto the ice. Do not check the strength of the ice by kicking it. If, after the first strong blow with a log or ski pole, even a little water appears, it means that the ice is thin and unsafe to walk on. In this case, one should immediately retreat along their own trail to the shore, taking sliding steps, keeping their feet on the ice and spreading them shoulder-width apart to distribute the load over a larger area. The same actions should be taken when hearing warning cracks in the ice and when cracks form in it. If you find yourself on thin, cracking ice, carefully turn back and return to the shore by sliding steps along the path you came from. When going onto a frozen water body, it is necessary to take a strong rope 20-25 meters long with a large loop at one end and a weight. The weight will help throw the rope to a comrade who has fallen into the water, and the loop is needed for the victim to hold on more securely by placing it under their armpits. When crossing a water body in a group, maintain a distance from each other (5-6 m). It is better to cross a frozen river (lake) on skis, while ski bindings should be unfastened so that they can be quickly removed if necessary; hold ski poles in your hands without looping them around your wrists, so that in case of danger, you can immediately throw them away. Be especially cautious in areas covered with a thick layer of snow, in places with fast currents and spring flows, near protruding bushes, sedges, and grasses, and in areas where streams flow into water bodies, and where industrial wastewater is discharged. If you have a backpack, hang it on one shoulder, which will allow you to easily free yourself from the load in case the ice breaks. When fishing on the ice, it is not recommended to make holes 5-6 meters apart.

IT IS PROHIBITED: to go onto the ice while intoxicated, to jump and run on the ice, to gather a large number of people in one spot, to go onto thin ice that has formed on rivers with fast currents. What to do if you fall through the ice? Do not panic, do not make sudden movements, stabilize your breathing. Spread your arms wide to the sides and try to grab the edge of the ice to avoid submerging completely; if possible, move to the edge of the hole where the current will not pull you under the ice. Carefully, without breaking the edge, and without sudden movements, crawl onto the edge of the ice, throw one leg over it, and then the other. If the ice holds, slowly roll away from the edge and crawl to the shore. Move in the direction from which you came - the ice there has already been tested for strength.