Frozen water safety advice issued after tragic deaths in Solihull
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With Caithness in the grip of icy conditions, safety advice has been issued across the UK to warn about the dangers of frozen water.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said it was deeply saddened by the tragic events at Solihull when three boys died after falling into a frozen lake and extended its condolences to the families and communities impacted by the news.
RoSPA is urging people across Britain to be especially cautious around open waters during the current extreme weather conditions the UK faces.
With news of the Met Office’s current yellow weather warning, where temperatures are set to drop as low as -15 in parts of Britain, RoSPA is concerned that icy conditions could result in further harm.
David Walker, head of road and leisure safety at RoSPA, said: “With the current weather conditions as they are, it’s important that people are especially careful around open waters. If you encounter somebody who is in trouble on or near ice, it’s vital that you don’t go in too.
“Call the emergency services on 999. If you can, find an object like a pole or a life-ring that they can hold onto and help them stay afloat.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) urges people to stay safe around frozen water as temperatures look set to remain below freezing in Scotland.
Whether in a river, pond, canal or reservoir – frozen water should be avoided. While the surface may look solid, it can suddenly crack and cause a person to fall through and potentially become trapped under the ice. The consequences can be fatal as the low temperature of the water can bring on cold-water shock which can lead to a heart attack.
If someone does into difficulty on the ice, advice is to dial 999, ask for the fire and rescue service and wait for help to arrive. Do not attempt to rescue them as you could be putting yourself in danger.
Parents, carers and guardians are also asked to ensure children are made aware of the dangers of playing on ice. Dog owners should also ensure they keep pets on a lead and should avoid throwing objects onto the ice for them to retrieve.
SFRS area commander for prevention and protection, David Dourley, said: “Don’t wander too near to the edge, icy conditions could cause you to slip and fall in and don’t be tempted to test how solid the water is. Adults should set a good example by staying off the ice and we also ask that parents, carers and guardians ensure children are aware of the dangers of frozen water.
“We don’t want your winter walk to end in tragedy so please avoid going near frozen water when you are out with loved ones and pets.”
Advice for anyone who gets into trouble in frozen water is to try to conserve their energy by keeping as still as possible while waiting for help. And be aware of the dangers of cold-water shock which can be brought about by low temperatures, which can cause breathing difficulties, blood vessels to close, the heart-rate to increase and lead to a heart attack.
Water Safety Scotland (WSS) also issued safety advice and issued a statement saying: “We are urging people to keep themselves and their children off of frozen water, as well as keeping their dogs on leads. If dog-walkers don’t wish to keep their dogs on leads, then we advise keeping ball- or stick-throwing to areas away from frozen water. Tragically, many past incidents have involved attempted rescues of another person or dog in trouble on or in frozen water.”
For more information on cold water shock please visit: watersafetyscotland.org.uk/information/cold-water-shock/
If you do encounter someone who has fallen through ice:
- Call the emergency services by dialling 999
- The emergency services will need to know where you are. Accurate information can save precious minutes. If you have a smart phone and have location services or map tool enabled, this can help. If not look around for any landmarks or signs – for example bridges will often have numbers on them which can identify their location
- Do not attempt to go out on to the ice yourself
- Tell the person to stay still to maintain heat and energy
- Try finding something which will extend your reach, such as a rope, pole or branch
- Throw the object out and, once ensuring you are stable on the bank either by lying down or having someone hold on to you, pull them in
- If you cannot find something to reach with, try finding an object that will float and push that out to them
- Ensure that you keep off the ice at all times during the rescue, continue to reassure the casualty and keep them talking until help arrives
- Once the person has been rescued, keep them warm and take them to hospital even if they appear to be unaffected.
