Just because the air is warm, doesn’t mean the water is.
The Grand River Conservation Authority is warning anyone venturing into the Grand River watershed to exercise extra caution, especially along the banks of rivers, streams and lakes.
The water is cold enough to incapacitate you within seconds, says GRCA development coordinator Cam Linwood.
“We certainly just want people to be cautious, with March Break coming up next week,” Linwood said. “With the warmer weather kids get a little bit more adventurous and start getting outsides.”
He said that although there is no visible ice in streams and rivers at this time, the water is still extremely cold – zero degrees or slightly warmer.
“The big message is stay well back,” he added. “Those stream beds are really slippery this time of year.”
Linwood said the risk of hypothermia setting in very quickly is a real threat when someone enters frigid water. It can only take a matter of seconds for that person to become immobilized.
“Someone can get into trouble very fast, and may not be able to get out under their own power,” he said.
It has been known to happen that a dog will venue out on thin spring ice on one of the smaller lakes in the watershed and get into trouble. When the owner rushes in to help, they, too, can find themselves in trouble, Linwood said.
