Ice Skating Safety

Use caution when choosing a location to ice skate. Moving water such as rivers and streams will always pose the most danger, and should never be skated upon. The appearance of frozen bodies of water can be deceiving. Weather temperature and environmental conditions may affect the conditions of the ice. The Police Department cannot recommend skating on outdoor bodies of water; an indoor skating rink will still provide the most safety.

Ice rescue should always be conducted by trained rescue personnel. The rescue guidelines for a person who has fallen through the ice remain as: Throw, Reach, or Row. Trained rescuers may throw or use an object to pull the victim to safety, or emergency personnel might row a small boat to reach the victim. Improper rescue efforts could create additional victims.