Northeast Ohio first responders are warning to avoid the ice on Lake Erie and other bodies of water as warming temperatures increase the risk of falling through.
CLEVELAND — As temperatures warm up, emergency responders are urging Northeast Ohioans to stay off the ice.
Lake Erie’s frozen surface has drawn families, dog walkers and even young children onto the ice this weekend, despite warnings from officials that the beautiful winter scene poses deadly risks.
“People getting on the ice is just such a dangerous situation, because if you fall through, there’s no way, you can’t grab on anything,” said Chief Robert Gandee of the Willoughby Hills Fire Department.
Gandee says his firefighters are undergoing ice rescue training this week, preparing for the busiest season for ice rescues. He stresses that anyone who falls through the ice needs professional help.
“And the problem is when you have somebody that goes that falls through the ice, then other people will go in after them, and you hear this time and time again, and then they get into trouble because they have no means of getting out either,” Gandee said.
A satellite image taken Feb. 13 shows ice conditions on Lake Erie, with visible cracks separating portions of the ice.
Gandee also warns that Lake Erie isn’t the only body of water requiring caution.
“If you fall through the ice on the river or a stream, is that you have no idea what the current is underneath, and there’s a good chance it could take you to sweep you underneath the ice in an area where the ice is much thicker and there’s no chance of survival, no chance of getting out,” he said.
On Sunday, John Kearns, public information officer for the Cleveland Division of Fire, released a statement urging the public to stay off Lake Erie ice.
“The Cleveland Division of Fire urges the public to stay off Lake Erie ice, particularly near Edgewater Park and other shoreline areas during warming conditions,” Kearns said. “Ice can deteriorate quickly and unpredictably, crack without warning, or break away from shore. Entering the ice places individuals at serious risk of falling through into frigid water, where hypothermia can occur within minutes. These incidents also require a coordinated emergency response, placing rescue personnel in hazardous conditions.”
Kearns emphasized that parents and guardians should closely supervise children and reinforce that no recreational activity on melting ice is worth the risk.
“If someone falls through, do not go onto the ice to attempt a rescue,” Kearns said said. “Call 911 immediately and, if possible, throw a flotation device or extend an object from a safe position on shore. Our crews are highly trained and properly equipped for ice rescue operations, but the safest outcome is preventing the emergency in the first place.”
Officials are also monitoring the potential for ice jams, which occur when ice melts too rapidly and breaks into pieces that lock together, causing flooding. Gandee says his department is watching the conditions of the Chagrin River to ensure residents living along the water stay safe.