Friday, November 21, 2008

OPP ISSUE CAUTION REGARDING ICE CONDITONS

(Sault Ste. Marie, ON) – With the arrival of colder temperatures the OPP would like to remind outdoor enthusiasts and children to use extreme caution around local area lakes, streams and rivers.

Every winter, 25 to 30 Canadians die in ice-related incidents and countless others fall through the ice and have brushes with death.

Here are some BE SMART. BE SAFE. ice safety tips:

1) Use designated ice surfaces. Many communities have designated outdoor ice surfaces – for activities such as skating – that are maintained by knowledgeable personnel.

2) Measure ice thickness in several locations. Local conditions such as currents and water depths can affect ice thickness. White ice has air or snow within it and should be considered suspect for recreational use. The recommended minimum ice thickness for new, clear, hard ice is as follows:

3” (7cm) or less: STAY OFF
4” (10 cm): ice fishing, walking, cross-country skiing, skating
5” (12 cm): one snowmobile or ATV
8-12” (20-30 cm): one car or small pickup
12-15” (30-38 cm): one medium truck (pickup or van)

3) Avoid travelling on ice at night or when it is snowing. Reduced visibility increases your chance of driving onto an open or weak ice area. This is a frequent cause of ATV – and snowmobile-related drowning.

4) Never go onto ice alone. A buddy may be able to rescue you or go for help if you get into difficulty. Before you leave shore, tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return.

5) Stay off river ice and avoid the narrows between lakes. River currents and moving water at the narrows where one lake flows into another can quickly change ice thickness or have much thinner ice that other locations on the river or on the lake.

6) Wear a thermal protection buoyant suit or a lifejacket. If you don’t have a thermal protection buoyant suit, wear a lifejacket or PFD over your snowmobile suit or layered winter clothing to increase your survival chances if you do go through the ice.

7) Take safety equipment with you. Pack ice picks, a rope and a small personal safety kit (i.e.., a pocket-knife, compass, whistle, fire starter kit and cell phone).

8) Avoid alcohol. Alcohol impairs your judgement, coordination and reaction time and speeds up the onset of hypothermia.

9) Don’t drive on ice if you can avoid it. If you can’t avoid it, have an escape plan. Open your windows, unlock your doors, and turn on your lights to allow for a quick escape from your vehicle.

10) Always supervise children playing on or near ice. Children playing on or near ice should always be with a buddy and under adult supervision.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT ICE CONDITION DO NOT GO OUT ON THE ICE

BE SMART. BE SAFE.

For more information on ice conditions refer to the Ministry of Natural Resources website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca .

Break and Enter to Business

(Blind River ON.) – On the Friday14 November 2008 Police were alerted to a Break In at a Local business on Leacock St in Blind River.

Just before 9:00 p.m. Police responded to an alarm at a local Hardware Store where they discovered that a suspect had broken through a wall in an effort to gain entry to the store. The would-be thief was using the cover of darkness and poor weather to conceal his activities.
The O.P.P. canine Unit was called but was unsuccessful in locating the suspect.

The break in is similar to other break-ins in the area and Police are asking anyone who may have information regarding this or any other crime to call them at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

Police are asking the public to report any suspicious persons or activity the see.