Despite appearances, spring is on its way.
No doubt many of us ó if not most ó are already keenly anticipating the return of warm weather and the inevitable spring thaw that follows. Chances are no one will miss shovelling snow off of their driveway and sidewalk, bundling up like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man just to go outside, nor defrosting vehicles that might struggle to start in a deep freeze.
But when the snow starts to melt, ice is never far behind. When that starts to happen, a once fun winter playground becomes a treacherous and even potentially fatal hazard.
Sometimes, the ice might even look deceptively sturdy when in fact the slightest bit of pressure could in the blink of an eye break open a wide hole, quickly taking with it an unsuspecting person who was unaware of the danger.
Although adults generally tend to be more conditioned when it comes to such threats, children are more prone to curiously venture out as kids do ó to explore the world.
The death of a six-year-old boy who in February broke through the ice on an Airdrie canal is a tragic reminder of how innocently children perceive the world around them ó everything seems to be a wondrous new experience begging to be discovered.
"Kids are drawn to water when it starts flowing and running," Sundre's fire chief Marty Butts told the Round Up.
Water pooling or running overtop of a patch of ice is not uncommon, but it is tempting to a child looking to splash around, he said, adding a youth might be too preoccupied looking to play to consider the imminent peril.
"It only takes a second. Turn your head away, and it could happen that fast," he said, urging parents to keep an especially close eye on their children at this time of year.
In a worst-case scenario, the fire chief urges parents to fight their natural instincts to just go running in right after the child in a rescue attempt that might just end up placing two people in deadly peril for emergency responders to pull out.
"The last thing you want to do is go on the ice."
Instead, immediately call for help. Even rescue crews exhaust all other options such as extending a rope before making the decision to actually go out on the ice, he said.
Rivers, creeks and lakes are not the only possible dangers ó streams strong enough to overpower a child can flow through ditches and culverts as well as open fields during the spring thaw, he said.
And with popular activities in the region such as ice fishing, there are sure to be outdoor enthusiasts of all ages out and about, but by taking the proper steps they can stay safe while having fun.
"You just have to monitor what Mother Nature's doing and be aware of it," said Butts.
ó Simon Ducatel, editor
