Spring is here!
It's the season many have been waiting for, eagerly anticipating budding trees, blooming gardens, and the homecoming of some warmth-loving critters. But, while this time of year is held with open arms, there is reason for caution — especially as the ice melts.
"Roughly 30 per cent of drownings in Manitoba happen... between October and April," says Lynne Stefanchuk, the executive director of Lifesaving Society Manitoba. "There's always that danger around waterways in Manitoba."
She says it's a good idea to be hypervigilant about enjoying waterways in winter, especially when ice is weakening.
Stefanchuk says when a layer of ice is still on waterways, it can be easy to think it's solid but says ice should be at least four inches thick to walk on safely, and higher for various equipment.
Ice should also be clear and hard she says, as cloudy ice is an indication of unsafe ice.
Even so, it's not a time to take any chances, she says, asking others not to test their luck.
If they decide the conditions are OK, Stefanchuk encourages them to be proactive in taking safety precautions.
"Don't go out there alone, make sure that you're with someone. Stick to paths familiar to you, and don't venture out if visibility s an issue (including at night) ... have some precautionary equipment with you. Whether it's a personal flotation device or something that will ensure that if something happens, that you have the means to be safe," she says.
Should someone find themselves, or someone they know, in a scary situation, it would also be important to have a phone, first aid kit, and something one could throw to help another in trouble, like rope.
A signaling device could also be beneficial, she adds.
Education is also an important preventative measure, Stefanchuk says, noting more information on winter and ice safety can be found on Lifesaving Society Manitoba's website at lifesaving.mb.ca.
"This is a really beautiful province, and we have with incredible waterways. We want to make sure that when people are out there enjoying them, whatever the time of year, that the whole experience is a wonderful one and not a scary one," she says.