Caution! Thin ice

Spending just 15 minutes in cold water can have the most tragic consequences. At water temperatures ranging from 0 to -2°C, a fatal outcome can occur after just 10 minutes.

Potential victims include ice fishing enthusiasts. Besides fishermen, children are also frequently drowned. According to statistics, one-third of victims are intoxicated. However, no one is completely immune to extreme swimming, so simple safety rules should be followed:

- remember that ice at least 7 cm thick is considered relatively safe. It is green or bluish-green in color. Dirty, brownish-gray ice is usually already thawed and unstable. By the way, at a temperature of 0°C, maintained for three days, the strength of the ice decreases by 25%;

- ice is considered unstable near river mouths and tributaries, near springs and drainage waters, as well as trees, bushes, and reeds;

- do not test the strength of the ice,

jumping on it or kicking it;

- equip yourselves properly for ice fishing: bring at least a minimal set of rescue equipment: a rope, a stick, a board, a life jacket, "crampons" to get out;

- do not drill ten holes next to each other and do not gather in large groups on the ice.

Parents, be sure to talk to your children about the dangers of playing on the ice, and strictly forbid them from going out on the ice!

How to get out of an ice hole and help a comrade: recommendations from rescuers

If you fall through the ice:

1. Do not panic. Rescue depends 90% on the confidence and psychological state of the person who has fallen through the ice.

If there are people nearby, call for help.

2. Try not to go underwater headfirst.

3. Move towards the edge of the ice hole from which the current is flowing. Once there, try to lean your chest on the edge of the ice and, putting a leg over, get onto the ice. Even if the ice breaks, do not give up trying to get out.

4. When the main part of your body is on the ice, crawl or roll away from the ice hole. Slowly and carefully crawl to a safe place, returning along your tracks.

5. Once on land, remove and wring out wet clothing. Move and do strength exercises, build a fire. Call an ambulance.

If you witness someone falling through the ice:

When providing assistance to a person who has fallen through the ice, be careful not to end up needing to rescue two people.

First, do not panic and consider what you can do and whether it is within your capabilities. It may be best to call for assistance from a more experienced person.

Arm yourself with a stick, pole, rope, or board, and carefully crawl towards the ice hole, distributing your body weight evenly over the surface, pushing the rescue device in front of you.

Once you have approached the ice hole to the maximum possible safe distance, extend the stick, pole, or throw the rope to the victim.

When you begin to pull the victim out, ask them to use their legs: this will make it easier to pull them out of the ice hole.

Pull the victim out to

safe place and provide first aid for hypothermia. Call an ambulance.

What to do if a lifeless body is pulled from the water?

Perform artificial respiration and closed-chest cardiac massage.

You must attempt to revive the person, even if they were in cold water for more than 10 minutes.