February 23-25, 2012 witnessed a joint raid through the Turochak district and the Teletskoye Lake organized by the State Small Boat Inspectorate of EMERCOM of Russia (GIMS of Russia) – its Altai Republic Department - and the Altaiskiy State Biosphere Reserve. The key objectives of the raid were to ensure public tranquility in the Altaiskiy Reserve area and do some prevention work with the locals including safety measure instructions and preventive measures for averting water-related accidents in the winter time.
Fifty safety instruction leaflets providing information on the correct behavior in falling through the ice situations were distributed in the course of the raid. Participants of the raid organized 50 talk sessions centered on safety measures and prevention of water accidents in the winter time, involving 79 people, with 31 amateur fishermen fishing in areas outside the Reserve.
In case of accidents stick to the following instructions:
If you fall through the ice:
Spread your arms flat against the ice and try to avoid the submersion of your head. Stay calm and don’t panic – panic is your worst enemy.
1. Try to leave the ice edge intact and, avoiding harsh movements, pull yourself out. Lean forward onto the ice with your breast, use your arms and elbows to lift yourself up and eventually push and pull yourself out of the hole. The most important thing is to distribute your weight over as much area of solid and safe ice as possible. After getting out of the hole, roll away from it and crawl back the way you came, as the ice you crossed earlier held up under your weight until the breaking point and is therefore safe.
2. Do not run on the ice despite the desire to warm up. Exercise extreme caution all the way back to the shore.
3. On the shore roll on the snow for a while in your wet clothes to let the snow sponge up the moisture. Depending on the circumstances, find the place to warm yourself up and dry your clothes.
If you see someone fall through the ice:
1. Let them know immediately you’re coming to their rescue. Talk them out of the situation and help stay calm.
2. Crawl to the hole with your arms spread wide and flat against the ice. If possible, put your skis, a board or a piece of plywood under your body, this will help increase the bearing area and make your movement on the ice safer. Don’t come close to the ice edge, you may go down yourself – don’t put yourself in danger. Try to find something that will extend your reach, such as a rope, pole, branch, board, sledge, belts, skis or item of clothing (scarves) and from a 3-4 meter distance from the hole throw this or reach out to the casualty with it.
If you fall through the ice in your car:
1. The car will stay afloat for a while, so you’ll have some time to get out of it.
2. If you didn’t manage to get out of the car and go down in it, don’t open the doors, for the water will flow into the car and sink it within seconds.
3. With doors and windows closed you’ll still have a few minutes for active lung ventilation (deep breathing fills your lungs with enough oxygen). You’ll also have time to think things over, get rid of heavy clothing and think of your way up.
4. Get out of the car through a door or a window (if possible – through a lowered window). Holding on the roof, chin up and swim upwards quickly. Make your way out of the car when it is half-filled with water, for if you open the door and try to get out, you may be swept away with the stream of water flowing into the car. After you get out of the car you have 30 to 40 seconds for the ascent.
Photo and information source: the State Small Boat Inspectorate of EMERCOM of Russia (GIMS of Russia), the Altai Republic Department