Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public to stay away from frozen lakes and ponds which can easily give way and leave people trapped underneath.
The Fire and Rescue Service is issuing the warning as the cold spell continues throughout the region. The Service's specialist Swiftwater Rescue teams have been out this week undergoing rigorous ice rescue training as part of their ongoing training programme. This involves rescuing a live casualty, a trained firefighter, who has fallen through the ice. The team will use a range of specialist equipment and skills to perform the rescue, including a mud sled to access the ice and axes to cut through the ice to make the area of unfrozen water wider to help rescue the casualty. The firefighters will wear special dry suits and thermal clothing and have buoyancy aids to help with the rescue.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tom Capeling, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, says: "In this weather, people may be tempted to walk or play on frozen ponds and lakes but this is extremely dangerous. The ice can give way very easily, leaving people trapped underneath in freezing temperatures. We would urge the public to keep safe and stay away from frozen ponds and lakes."
"Firefighters in our Swiftwater rescue team are highly trained to deal with a wide range of incidents involving water. They undergo regular training to ensure they can respond quickly and effectively to difficult situations. However, we hope that they will not be called into action."
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has issued the following guidelines:
* Do not allow children to play on or close to frozen ponds and lakes.
* Do not allow dogs off the leash on or close to frozen ponds and lakes.
* If you are out walking, stick to the main paths and walkways and
avoid untouched snow as it may be covering a frozen pond or lake. Snow on top of frozen water makes the ice thinner and even more dangerous.
* If you see a person or animal become trapped under ice, do not go on to the ice to attempt to rescue them.
* Call 999 and get the Fire and Rescue Service out.
The Swiftwater Rescue team is based at Newcastle East Community Fire Station in Byker and was set up in 2007. It comprises 49 highly trained firefighters from across all four Watches within the Service. They are trained to deal with any incidents involving water including ice rescues, river rescues, flooding incidents and people threatening to jump into the water.
The team's specialist equipment includes rescue sleds, wading poles, inflatable walkways, dry suits and buoyancy aids.