The Hennepin County Sheriff's office offered the following news release on ice safety today:

Safety alert: Most fatal ice accidents involve young children

November 26, 2008 (Minneapolis) – Most victims of fatal accidents on the ice in Hennepin County have been children.
Hennepin Sheriff Rich Stanek is reminding parents and guardians to keep children away from thin ice on rivers, ponds, creeks and lakes.

“This is a tragedy that can be prevented,” said Sheriff Stanek, “Please teach your children that no ice should ever be considered safe—especially this time of year.”

Over the past three decades in Hennepin County, more than half of all ice-related fatalities have been children under the age of 18. According to the DNR, since 1978, a total 17 people in the county have been victims of drownings or other fatal accidents on the ice. Of those victims, ten were children.

When your child is near the ice, you should be near your child.

The early part of winter has traditionally been the time of year when children are at-risk for ice accidents because of their holiday schedule over the next two months. With Thanksgiving break, children will have more time on their hands to explore outside.

Small bodies of water such as ponds are especially a hazard now since they are the most likely to have a thin layer of ice. A dusting of snow or frost may give thin ice the appearance that it is safe when it is not. When ice is less than two inches thick, no one should attempt to walk on it.

Remember to keep your dog on a leash this time of year. The Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol has responded to recent incidents involving pet owners who put themselves in jeopardy chasing after a dog that wandered onto thin ice.

For more information about ice safety, the DNR has tips online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice. You can find safety tips, brochures and a DNR ice safety video.

(Karla Wennerstrom is the editor of the Eden Prairie News. She can be reached at editor@edenprairienews.com.)