Ice Safety Tips

DRPS is reminding the public that many lakes and streams are not completely frozen and not safe to travel on even with some recent cold weather.

Last week, officers from West Division were called to a reservoir pond in Ajax for two youth who had fallen through the ice. Ajax Fire, with the assistance from DRPS officers and bystanders were able to assist the males who made it back to shore safely.

In addition to these reservoir ponds, Durham Region has three large bodies of water: Lake Ontario, Lake Scugog and Lake Simcoe. All three have unique ice characteristics, freeze and thaw at different times in different locations and can be very unpredictable.

Remember, no ice or body of water is ever entirely safe. Anyone enjoying recreational activities near a body of water must make their personal safety a top priority. Remember to make smart, educated choices about water safety. This can greatly reduce the possibility of accidents that put both you and responding emergency services personnel in danger.

The following are a few safety tips that can help keep you safe:

• Know the condition of the ice before you go out and take into consideration the recent changes the weather may have had.
• Never go out on the ice alone.
• Tell someone your plans, where you are going and what time you are expected back.
• Be prepared with an emergency kit.