Stay off icy lakes, fire service warns

Wednesday, 14 December 2022 10:41

By Sam Dean

With the cold snap set to last for several days, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to stay off frozen water.

The warning follows the tragic death of three children in a lake in Solihull at the weekend.

The fire service says it’s important to understand the dangers of open waters in cold and icy conditions.

A number of lakes and reservoirs may freeze during winter but it’s hard to know how thick the ice is. The water temperatures will be freezing and water depths are hard to tell.

If you see somebody fall through ice, the advice from Royal Life Saving Society is not to venture on to the frozen water, no matter how safe it looks but follow these steps:

CALL the emergency services on 999
SHOUT for assistance
REACH if it is safe to do so, try and reach them from the bank using a rope, pole, tree branch. When reaching from the bank, lie down to avoid being pulled onto the ice

If you cannot reach them, slide something which floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, across the ice for them to hold onto to stay afloat whilst help is on the way

If the casualty is too far away, do not attempt to rescue them. Wait for the emergency services while calming and reassuring the casualty.

Dog owners are advised to stay away of frozen water on dog walks and to never throw sticks or balls on to the frozen water.

If a dog falls into icy water, do not go onto ice or into the water. Move to somewhere on the bank where the dog will be able to climb out and call them towards you.