As soon as winter sets in, most children, and some adults, look forward to the ice freezing on the ponds. This, of course, is a good opportunity to go ice skating, go ice fishing, but do not forget about safety on the ice during this period. We will get acquainted with the main rules in our article.
Ice formation
With the onset of frosty weather, you should not count on the instantaneous covering of reservoirs with ice. This process is lengthy and depends on many factors. It usually begins in November and continues until the New Year. It all depends on the weather conditions, which are different every year.
When the temperature is low at night, ice forms, but under the rays of the sun during the day, it begins to become porous from the water that seeps through it. At the same time, the thickness may already be decent, but it cannot be called reliable, so it is important to observe safety measures on the ice.
Usually freezing of reservoirs occurs unequally over the entire area, first of all freezing begins in shallow water, along the banks, and then the ice fetters the middle. In different water bodies, this process proceeds at different speeds, for example, on rivers, iceis formed more slowly, since this process is hindered by the current. Even on the same reservoir in different parts of it, the ice can be of different thickness.
Keeping life on ice
Almost every year there are situations when the most impatient lovers of winter fishing or ice skating find themselves in a dangerous position, finding themselves in icy water. And all because the thickness of the ice is not taken into account.
Such lovers first of all need to study safety measures on the ice in the winter, and only then go to the pond. The most important rule: if you are not sure about the strength of the ice, do not step on it. Sometimes a person begins to understand his mistake, having already found himself on thin ice, in this case, you should try to follow your steps carefully back.
Difficult to assess the strength of the ice snow, which lies on top. While moving, you may not see that the cracks have gone, but it’s impossible not to hear the crunch, so when it appears, you should stop moving and go back.
Safe ice
No amount of safety equipment on the ice will help if it is not thick enough. The ice cover must be able to withstand the load that will be applied to it.
- In order for one person to safely cross a frozen body of water, the thickness of the ice along the route must be at least 7 centimeters.
- You can only set up a skating rink if the layer thickness is about 12 centimeters.
- You can only cross in a group on ice with a thickness of 15centimeters.
- And the movement of cars will be safe with a thickness of at least 30 centimeters.
Even if you are sure that the reservoir is well frozen, safety measures on the ice in winter will not be superfluous.
Tricky Ice
Specialists can determine its reliability even by the appearance of ice. More dangerous, and, therefore, thin is considered yellowish or dull white ice. Most often, it has a porous structure, so it cannot be considered reliable.
Need to know: if the temperature does not fall below zero degrees for several days, the strength is reduced by 25%. The thinnest ice occurs even in frosty weather near thickets of reeds, bushes or trees that grow along the banks.
Be especially careful near ice holes - they can become completely invisible if they are a little covered with snow.
How to make sure the ice is reliable
Finding out whether the ice is strong or not is sometimes possible only by stepping on it. If, after a few steps, small radial cracks are visible and a slight crunch is heard, then in principle you can walk on it, but observe the safety of behavior on the ice.
Checking the strength of the ice by jumping on it or stamping your feet is not at all prudent. If, after checking, water protruding from above the ice is found, it is better not to cross in this place. Safety on thin ice must be paramount. You can never predict where you can fall into the icy water.
Better to prevent an accident, go back, stepping carefully on your owntraces and high without raising his legs. In the event of a strong crackle, it is better to crawl.
Ice Rules
In winter, safety on the ice is a must. To do this, you must adhere to the following rules:
- You can not go on the ice at night, in heavy fog, snow or rain.
- If you need to cross to the other side, it is better to use the ice crossings.
- It is impossible to test the strength of ice by kicking it, it is better to use a stick for this. If even a small amount of water appears, it can already be said that the ice is thin and not suitable for skiing or walking on it.
- If you urgently need to cross the ice to the other side, it is better to use the already laid paths, and if there are none, think over the route more carefully.
- In case of group movement, it is better to walk keeping a distance of at least 5 meters from each other.
- It is most convenient to cross the pond on skis, just do not fasten the bindings so that at the slightest danger you can quickly reset them.
- If there is a burden behind your back, it is better to place it on one shoulder so that you can easily get rid of it in case of danger.
- When going to a frozen body of water, you must always take a strong rope with a loop and a load, so that if necessary you can throw it to a failed friend.
- Often safety is not observed on the ice in winter by persons intoxicated. In suchstate, it is impossible to adequately respond to the danger, and then the tragedy is within easy reach.
Sometimes the desire to skate on newly formed ice, to play hockey is stronger than the feeling of danger, and therefore unforeseen situations happen. Ice safety is especially important for kids looking forward to winter.
Ice rules for children
Most children look forward to winter with great anticipation to have plenty of sledding, skating, playing hockey, so very often kids neglect all safety rules. Parents have a great responsibility for the he alth and safety of the child, so they must tell their children about safety on the ice in the winter.
- Don't let children go alone to frozen waters.
- Be sure to make sure that the ice is at least 7 centimeters thick.
- If team games are to be played on ice, the thickness of the ice cover should be about 12 centimeters.
- Children should be explained that when moving on ice of dubious thickness, it is necessary to walk in single file and no closer than 5 meters from each other.
- You can't step on the ice if it is covered with snow, you can easily stumble on the hole.
- Forbid children to go to the water with the onset of spring heat. The ice quickly begins to melt, especially along the banks, around bushes and reeds.
- You can't jump on a detached ice floe, it has the unpleasant property of easily turning over, so in a matter of minutesyou might end up in the water.
- If, nevertheless, the ice did not hold and cracked, and the child ended up in the water, then he should know how to act in such a situation.
- If the child was not alone, but with a group of friends, then in case of danger, someone should quickly go for help, and the rest should take all measures to save their friend, just try not to keep him company.
Safety on the water, on the ice is studied in schools in the lessons of life safety, before each vacation, class teachers must conduct the appropriate briefing.
First aid on ice
Everyone can find themselves in ice water in winter, so you need to know how to help your friend. Here are the main recommendations:
- Move towards the failed one is necessary only by crawling.
- It is better not to extend a hand to a friend, but a scarf, a stick or other improvised means, so as not to be near him yourself.
- After a friend has caught on the object extended to him, you must carefully pull it onto the ice, but do not make sudden movements.
- After a successful extraction, assistance should be provided, which consists in warming the victim and changing him into dry clothes.
It is very important that the comrades do not lose their heads in such a situation and instead of running in different directions, help their friend.
What to do if you fall through the ice
Often there are situations when a persongoes alone to a frozen pond and a tragedy happens: under the snow that has fallen, a polynya is not seen, and now the icy water opens its arms. What to do in this case? Here is the algorithm of actions:
- Most importantly, keep your composure and don't panic, clinging to the edge of the ice. This will not help, but will only wear you out.
- From the first second, you must try to get to the surface of the ice, while taking a horizontal position.
- If the current pulls under the ice, you need to rest against the edge with all your might and call for help loudly.
- When moving, the backpack should be on one shoulder, if you fall through the ice, it will be easy to drop it and free your hands to save.
- If you go alone to a pond in winter, you need to have "lifeguards" with you, which you can make yourself. To do this, the nails are wrapped with insulation, making it look like a handle, and the cord is passed through so as not to be lost. At the moment of danger, with their help, you can cling to the ice like claws and thus save your life.
Safety on the ice must always come first, under no circumstances should we lose our vigilance.
Came ashore: what's next?
The most important thing after liberation from ice captivity is to warm up faster, so you need to get to a warm room as soon as possible. If you are far from home, you can take advantage of the hospitality of the residents of the neighboring village. If located very far fromsettlements, you should always have a set of dry clothes in your backpack, which can save you in such a situation.
At the second stage, it is important to warm yourself from the inside, and in this case you cannot do without a hot drink, so you will have to go home as soon as possible, preferably by running.
Whatever the weather on a winter day, you should not take the risk and go to the pond alone. It is especially dangerous to do this with the onset of the first spring days, when the ice begins to melt, becomes loose and fragile.
Behavior on water bodies in the autumn-winter period
To prevent accidents on water bodies in winter and late autumn, it is necessary to follow some rules of conduct. They are quite simple, but can save a human life:
- There is no need to rush to go to the reservoir with the appearance of the first ice cover.
- Ice becomes reliable only with the advent of stable low temperatures.
- It's quite dangerous to go down on the ice in unfamiliar places, especially in the thaw.
- It is better not to cross the reservoir in places with a large layer of snow, under it the thickness of the ice is always less than in the open.
- Don't risk your life going out on the ice at night and alone.
- It is better to play sports winter games on specially equipped ice rinks to be sure of the reliability of the ice.
- It is dangerous to use ice for crossing during spring floods.
Following these simple rules can save lives.
Recommendations for lovers of winterfishing
Quite often you can see fishermen who sit on the ice with a fishing rod, and around the thaw and polynya, especially in early spring and during thaws. The desire to catch a good fish makes you despise the dangers, but in vain. There are many cases when rescuers had to release unfortunate fishermen from ice captivity. And to prevent this from happening, all you need to do is follow some rules:
- For winter fishing, you need to choose a familiar body of water and those places where the depth does not exceed human height.
- Be able to recognize dangerous and safe ice.
- Be careful when descending from the shore to the ice, in these places it can be weak.
- Don't make several ice holes nearby.
- It is also undesirable to land in a large group on a small area of ice.
- If water spouts out of the hole while drilling, it means that the place is dangerous and not suitable for safe fishing.
- You need to have sharp objects with you that could be used to rescue in the event of a tragedy.
Only if you follow these simple rules, you can be sure that winter fishing will end safely.
Winter is good! There is an opportunity to go in for winter sports, plenty of sledding and skating, but you should not neglect the safety rules, especially on frozen ponds. And it is important that not only the safety of children on the ice is ensured, but adults themselves do not forget about caution.
