Frozen water warning (From Leigh Journal)

Dog owners should not put lives at risk

8:30am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

AS temperatures continue to plummet below freezing, and with further warnings of snow showers, people are being urged to stay safe no matter how tempting it might be to walk on frozen water.

Last winter there were several local incidents involving dogs falling though cracked ice and their owners putting their lives at risk trying to rescue them.

Steve Sheridan, Borough Commander for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue, said: "In most cases the ice cover simply isn't thick enough to hold a person's weight and the chance of it cracking, and of people falling through, are extremely high.

"Once immersed, a person can go into shock almost immediately because of the extremely chilly temperatures. They may slip under the ice and find it impossible to resurface.

"I urge parents to keep an eye on their children and pet owners to maintain close control of dogs when in the vicinity of frozen water. For further information on staying safe this winter contact your local fire station or visit www.Safe4Winter.com”

Cllr Kevin Anderson, Wigan Council’s cabinet champion for community safety, said: “Wintry landscapes can look idyllic, but frozen stretches of canals, lakes and pools present a serious hazard, especially for children, youths and dog walkers. But they aren’t playgrounds. There is no way of telling how thick or strong the ice is, so our advice is simple. Stay away from frozen water."

Sharon Saunders, Parks and Countryside Manager for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust warned: “Playing on ice is extremely dangerous and could have fatal consequences. We’d encourage everyone to heed these warnings about the dangers of skating on icy ponds and ask dog walkers to keep their animals on a lead when near frozen water.”