How you can ice skate safely within the Ottawa area

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The temperature is dropping, however ice security specialists are nonetheless urging warning earlier than discovering your self a river you possibly can skate away on.

“Our broad message is that no ice is secure ice,” mentioned Sean Duffy, space chair of the Lifesaving Society and a consultant on the Ottawa Drowning Prevention Coalition.

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In a single day lows within the double digits beneath freezing have improved ice situations within the nationwide capital area, however it’s nonetheless lower than two weeks because the tragedy on the Rideau River through which two teenagers drowned.

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“Even when you’ve skated on a frozen pond or a waterway yearly at the moment, with our altering water and climate situations, no ice is secure ice,” Duffy reiterated.

“Take a look at your neighbourhood rink. If that individual is having hassle making ice — and so they want about 10 centimetres of thickness — then you possibly can ensure that, in open water areas the place there’s transferring water, that the ice isn’t going to be secure.”

The Canadian Pink Cross suggests 15 centimetres of sturdy, clear ice is required to help one individual or a small group strolling, skating or snowboarding on the ice. Bigger teams require 20 centimetres thickness, whereas 25 centimetres is required for a snowmobile or an all-terrain car. No less than 30 centimetres of ice is required earlier than venturing out in a automobile or pickup truck.

Rivers and streams are significantly harmful as a result of currents can skinny and weaken the ice. Storm water ponds, like these discovered in lots of sub-divisions, are particular hazards as a result of the water is transferring and the water ranges beneath the ice can fluctuate.

“These are by no means secure,” Duffy mentioned.

Mud Lake within the Britannia Conservation Space is a well-liked skating spot that has tempted many skaters this yr with a clean, snow-free floor. On New Yr’s Day, simply two days after the Rideau River drownings, Ottawa police had been known as to the lake by a complainant and warned a number of skaters that the ice was unsafe. All complied and left the ice floor, police mentioned.

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However there’s no regulation stopping folks from venturing onto the ice.

“Town asks that residents keep away from going onto any frozen lakes or rivers as they don’t seem to be maintained, and security can’t be assured,” Tracey McGarry, Ottawa’s director of Complexes, Aquatics & Specialty Providers, wrote in an e mail.

“By the Ottawa Drowning Prevention Coalition, of which town is a companion, common public training campaigns and social media posts are issued asking all residents to remain off of frozen lakes and rivers.”

In the event you do enterprise out, Duffy has recommendation. Typically the ice has been examined and a secure space has been cordoned off for skating.

“Concentrate on the situations. Is the ice clear? Is it blue?” he mentioned. That’s the kind of ice that’s strongest. Freeze-thaw cycles produce greyish white ice that’s softer and makes it troublesome to guage the ice thickness.

“Is it transferring water? Rivers are at all times harmful environments. Lakes could be safer, however you continue to must examine.”

The Drowning Prevention Coalition advocates having layers of safety. Put on a life jacket or a floater coat, one that may maintain you each heat and buoyant. An ice security package contains hand picks you should utilize to tug your self again up on high of the ice must you fall via.

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“Take coaching,” he mentioned. “Go to a swimming pool and take a life saving class. You’ll be able to be taught what to do when you fall via the ice so it can save you your self or assist save another person.”

Or you possibly can search for alternate options to skating on lakes and rivers, such because the Rink of Desires at Ottawa Metropolis Corridor. This yr, town’s Play Free program gives free skating for teens 17 and underneath at greater than 30 metropolis arenas.

In the event you crave that open-air feeling, the woodland skating trails at Patinage en Forêt in Lac-des-Loups north of Gatineau Park, are open for skating on 5 kilometres of trails. Nearer to Ottawa, Icelynd in Stittsville and Petit Pinguin in Gatineau count on to be open for skating subsequent week.

As for the Rideau Canal Skateway — that will probably be some time but, the Nationwide Capital Fee says.

“The general public is requested to stay off the Rideau Canal, because the floor of the Skateway stays dangerously skinny,” the NCC mentioned in an replace on social media.

The canal skateway wants 10-14 consecutive days of temperature between -10 C and -20 C to freeze to the required 30 centimetres of thickness for the skateway to open.

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