Winter trap

Thin ice becomes the cause of death for people annually. As a rule, children and fishermen are most often among the deceased. The first victim of winter fishing has already been recorded in the Vitebsk region – a 49-year-old resident of the Miory district drowned on December 6.

The report to the rescuers was received from random passers-by who noticed a hole in the ice and, next to it, a bucket and a fishing boot. The MES units immediately departed for the scene. As it turned out later, the man born in 1974 went onto the unfrozen ice to fish and, having moved about 30 meters away from the shore, fell through. Rescuers and OSVOD employees surveyed the water area in the vicinity of the hole. First, an ice auger and a box with fishing tackle were recovered from the bottom, and a little later, the owner of the fishing gear himself. Unfortunately, the man did not take care of a life jacket, which might have been a contributing factor to his death, as well as going out on thin, unfrozen ice.

Similar stories with a sad ending, despite constant warnings from rescuers, happen every year. In November 2022 – March 2023 alone, 6 people drowned in the region.

MES employees remind: do not go out on the ice if its thickness is less than 7 cm. The reliability of the fragile mirror can be determined by its color. If the ice is matte white or yellowish, it is extremely unreliable. The strongest ice is from blue to transparent. Also, fishing enthusiasts should definitely wear a life jacket and take a knife or a nail with them, which can serve as an ice pick in case of an emergency.

Rescuers also remind parents of the need to warn children about the dangers of thin ice and ask them not to leave them unsupervised near water bodies, as curiosity, lack of life experience, and complete fearlessness push children to reckless actions. Thus, at the end of November, Vitebsk rescuers received a call from concerned citizens to the 101 line that children were running on the ice of one of the artificial reservoirs in the Bilevo microdistrict. Rescuers were promptly dispatched to the scene. It turned out that primary school students decided to risk their lives. It is unknown whether their parents were aware of the children's "heroic courage" at that moment. Ministry of Emergency Situations employees held a conversation with them about their thoughtless and dangerous act, and also informed educational institutions to prevent similar incidents.

To avoid tragedy, it is necessary to observe safety rules:

never let children go on the ice alone (for fishing, skiing, skating);

before going on the ice, make sure it is strong. A person can die in the water due to drowning, cold shock, as well as hypothermia within 15-20 minutes after falling into icy water;

use established ice paths. If there are none, standing on the shore, plan your route, take a strong long stick with you, and avoid suspicious areas;

in case of typical signs of weak ice: cracking, sagging, water on the ice surface, immediately return to the shore, walk with widely spaced legs, without lifting them from the ice surface, or crawl as a last resort;

avoid being on the ice in bad weather: fog, snowfall, rain, as well as at night;

never test the strength of the ice by kicking it.

If you see a person fall through the ice, immediately call rescuers at 101 or 112. Observe safety rules, take care of yourself and your loved ones.

Inspector of the Department of Supervision and Prevention of the Miory District Department for Emergency Situations O.M. Girzhda