Provincial police are warning residents in southwestern Ontario that warmer weather over the weekend means rivers and lakes that were frozen last week may now be unsafe.
West Region OPP is urging parents to be diligent and not only monitor children around these areas but to talk with the children about the dangers of playing around water and on ice that is not thick enough.
“Skating on an outdoor pond or river is a fun activity for the whole family but it can turn deadly if people don’t take precautions,” Insp. Ian Chappell, West Region manager of traffic and marine, said in a statement.
“Parents need to be extra cautious during these periods of warming temperatures and make sure the children stay away from ice and water.”
As the snow and ice melt, there is also potential for flooding, police add, and many people fail to recognize that even little depths of water and currents can be a hazard.
OPP encourages everyone to keep vehicles, pets and people away from any areas of open water and to talk about the dangers of playing around open water and melting snow and ice.
