The death of one man and close calls by others have emergency services and safety advocates once again warning winter enthusiasts to take precautions around ice.
A man in his 70s died on Thursday night after he fell through Lake Ontario ice near Toronto while skating. The following afternoon, two people fell through thin ice on Lake Scugog, but managed to get themselves to safety.
According to Durham police, officers were sent to the area of Percy Crescent, on the west side of Scugog Island, around 4 p.m. on Jan. 10 after receiving multiple calls about people falling through the ice.
Three men had been on the ice and two had fallen through, say police.
When officers arrived, the two men were out of the water and made their way to shore safely, add police.
The Scugog Fire Department also went the call, but the men were already on shore when firefighters arrived and no rescue was necessary, says the township’s fire chief, Mike Matthews.
Durham paramedics assessed the men who went into the water, he added.
Scugog’s bylaws allow for the fire department to bill for services such as ice rescues; however, Matthews said he is unsure if the township will seek compensation for Friday’s call.
“I have not made a determination at this point as to whether there will be an invoice for our services. No rescue was involved,” said the fire chief.
In Toronto, officers were called to the area of Lagoon Road and Centre Island Parkway on the Toronto Islands around 9 a.m. on Jan. 12 regarding reports of a “sudden death.”
According to police there, the man was skating Thursday night when he fell through the ice, but his body was not recovered until Friday morning. Police have not provided any other details.
Those two incidents have prompted police in Durham and Toronto, as well as others in law enforcement, to crank up the calls for winter enthusiasts to be cautious around frozen bodies of water.
The message is simple and unanimous: No ice is safe ice.
According to Durham police, the three large lakes within the region — Lake Ontario, Lake Scugog, and Lake Simcoe — all have unique ice characteristics, freezing and thawing 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,” said the Durham force in an online reminder. “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 York police service is also reminding the public to “exercise caution” if considering going onto frozen surfaces.
“Ice thickness on Lake Simcoe is very inconsistent as areas froze overnight,” said the force in a Jan. 12 online post. “If going out, have a safety plan and wear appropriate protective equipment, including a winter floater suit.”
Ontario Provincial Police are also urging the public to be safe around lakes, rivers and ponds.
There is a warning for Orillia but it’s for a different reason.
Dredging of the Port Of Orillia has made the ice in the area unsafe, according to City of Orillia officials.
In an online video post, OPP spokesperson Sgt. Kerry Schmidt and Mark Buma, Orillia’s manager of facilities operations, explained why the ice in Lake Couchiching is dangerous and should be avoided.
“We recognize that the Port of Orillia is a point of access for winter activities such as ice fishing and snowmobiling. Understanding the importance of safe access to the lake during these months is crucial,” said Fire Chief Chris Ferry. “Even though the ice may seem strong in areas where dredging is not occurring, it is not advisable to venture onto any ice anywhere in proximity to the Port of Orillia this winter. Safety remains our top priority, and we will monitor and communicate lake conditions throughout the project.”
The Lifesaving Society also stresses that 35 per cent of drownings in Canada occur from October to April when most people have no intention of going into the water.
“Drowning doesn’t just happen to non-swimmers in the summer,” said the society.
To stay safe, the Lifesaving Society suggests checking the ice to ensure it’s thick enough and always wearing a life-jacket during activities around the water.
According to society, those who fall into cold water can only “survive a few minutes,” and most drownings occur in water less than 20 C.
The society also advises people to have a plan in case they fall through ice.
Destination Ontario also offers up three steps for ice safety.
First, complete a visual inspection of the ice. Looks for cracks, breaks or holes in the ice or water flowing on the ice. Ice that’s soft or mushy, or which appears to have thawed and refrozen should also be approached cautiously.
The colour of ice is also an “extremely important” second step, said Destination Ontario.
Is that ice safe?
- Dull grey is a sure sign of unsafe ice. This grey colour means the ice is unsafe and that water is present. This ice will not support much weight. Grey is very common in the spring and in faster moving water all winter long.
- White opaque ice or snow ice is only half as strong as blue ice. It is formed by wet snow freezing on top of existing ice. It can be very dangerous if this ice has formed on top of ice that is not completely frozen.
- Blue ice is clear and strong and the safest ice of all. The colour of ice deepens with increasing thickness because water is naturally turquoise blue. It forms when the temperature drops below -8 C.
Destination Ontario also recommends checking ice thickness. The Canadian Red Cross says that ice should be at least 15 centimetres (six inches) thick to carry a single person, but if you’re heading out with a group of friends for skating or a game of shinny, ensure it’s 20 centimetres (eight inches).
Ice thickness for a sled or snowmobile should be a minimum of 25 centimetres (10 inches). For driving on the ice, a minimum of 30 centimetres (12 inches) or more for a light vehicle is recommended, according to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
“Remember, ice thickness is not uniform across most lakes and rivers,” stressed Destination Ontario.
If you do fall through the ice, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs suggests you remain calm and try to pull yourself out of the water.
Once successful, stay low — don’t stand up — and roll away from the opening into the water until you reach the shore.
Rolling allows weight to be dispersed over a broader area, said the OAFC.
If someone else falls through the ice, don’t go out onto the ice to rescue them, stressed the association.
Instead, the OAFC recommends calling 911 so that emergency responders with the proper gear and training can carry out a rescue.