‘Stay off the ice’ warn Winnipeg emergency crews

Despite the chill in the weather, first responders say Winnipeg rivers, streams and retention ponds are not sufficiently frozen and people should not be on them.

Paramedics, firefighters and police have issued a joint plea urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of thin ice and that falling into ice-cold water can be deadly.

“Falling through thin ice is preventable and frequently ends with tragic consequences,” Staff Sergeant Rob Riffel of the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Falling through thin ice is preventable and frequently ends with tragic consequences," Staff Sergeant Rob Riffel of the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said.

While rivers are obvious areas of concern, the warning also applies to other bodies of water:

• drainage ditches
• culverts
• streams
• creeks
• retention ponds
• outfalls

“The WPS considers all frozen bodies of water within the City of Winnipeg to be unsafe for recreational use with the exception of areas that are monitored in accordance with the City’s Frozen Waterways By-Law.”

WPS River Patrol places warning signs at specific locations, but asks area residents to consider all waterways as potentially dangerous – the absence of a sign does not suggests the area is safe.

Up-to-date ice conditions at city-run facilities are available on the city website.

City police also have information on their website.