Police issuing reminders about deteriorating ice

The York Regional Police Marine Unit is warning residents that with the recent mild temperatures set to continue this week, the ice on Lake Simcoe has almost completely deteriorated and rivers and streams may be swollen and running faster than usual.

Lake Simcoe is now completely open due to the increasingly mild temperatures. Police advise residents to be aware of weather and lake conditions before venturing out.

Parents are urged to warn their children to stay away from lake shores, river banks and creeks and ponds. Melting ice and increasing water flows make these bodies of water fast-moving and dangerous.

Most fatalities on the water are preventable if smart choices are made up front. Each year, however, there are recreational accidents and fatalities on York Region waterways, often the cause of poor judgment or poor decisionmaking based upon inadequate information.

Police are urging residents to follow these safety tips: + Wear proper floatation attire and clothing when participating in a waterrelated activity. + Tell someone about your plans and specifically where you are going. + Know the condition of the ice or water before you go out and take into consideration the recent changes in the weather may have had on the ice. + Be suspicious of gray, dark or porous spots in the ice as these may be soft areas. Ice is generally strongest where it is hard and blue.

Remember no ice or body of water is ever completely safe. Any individual enjoying recreational activities near a body of water must make a personal decision to do so, realizing that there is a degree of risk associated with this choice. It is crucial that citizens take individual responsibility in evaluating the dangers of any recreational activity. If you make smart, educated choices on safety, accidents can be prevented.