The Town of Okotoks is reminding people to stay safe around ice, such as a partially frozen river or storm pond. Photo by Stephen Strand
The Town of Okotoks is advising residents to be safe around storm ponds and other frozen bodies of water.
Storm ponds are designed to manage excessive rainwater runoff from developed parts of town.
According to Captain Brux Hocking with the Okotoks Fire and Rescue, storm ponds are unsafe.
Captain Hocking says that if you do go out onto a storm pond and fall through the ice, try to get people’s attention.
With that, if you are out walking and see someone or an animal who has fallen through the ice, Captain Hocking says to not go rushing out onto the ice.
Captain Hocking goes on to explain what happens once they receive a call about someone who has fallen through ice.
There are several storm ponds in Okotoks, and Captain Hocking says they receive multiple calls a year involving people and animals who have fallen through the ice in a storm pond.
Some of those calls, Captain Hocking says, are even for birds and deer.
On top of being safe around storm ponds, Captain Hocking reminds people to be safe around any frozen water, such as the Sheep River, which flows through town.
To learn more about ice and storm pond safety in Okotoks, click here.
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