Nipissing West Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding the public about practicing proper ice safety.
“Many lakes and rivers in the area may have a thin layer of ice, but with the milder weather and are still not safe to venture onto,” states a release. “Residents must take caution regarding thin ice conditions on area waterways.”
Factors that affect ice thickness include:
- Type of water
- Time of year
- Water depth and size of body of water
- Currents, tides and other moving water
- Logs, rocks and shoals absorbing heat from the sun
- Changing air temperature
The OPP says “No ice is safe ice” and venturing out onto unsafe ice puts your life and those of the first responders at risk.
They say ice thickness should be checked regularly and anyone considering venturing out on the ice for recreational activities should do so with an experienced outdoor enthusiast who is familiar with local conditions and water currents.
Children should not play near or on ice-covered bodies of water unless supervised by an experienced, safety-conscious person.
