ICE AT STATE PARKS STILL UNSAFE FOR SKATING

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Ice Safety Guide

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462

For Release:	January 28, 2008
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

ICE AT STATE PARKS STILL UNSAFE FOR SKATING
State Park Ice Information Line Open; Online Ice Safety Guide Available

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management advises that despite the recent cold spell, there is no safe ice at monitored state parks at this time.

Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it is considered safe by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s or below before ice may become safe.

"Even then, the strength of the ice is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations," says John Faltus, DEM's Deputy Chief of Parks and Recreation. According to DEM's Division of Parks and Recreation, the ice at Lincoln Woods State Park and Goddard Memorial State Park currently is approximately four and a half inches thick.

DEM provides ice safety information for Lincoln Woods, World War II, Goddard and Meshanticut State Parks on its 24-hour Ice Information telephone line, 222-2632. However, residents should contact their local recreation departments for skating opportunities and conditions in individual communities since DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities.

As a safety precaution, the Department strongly encourages skaters to utilize manmade skating rinks. There are numerous indoor skating facilities located throughout the state such as municipal rinks in Cranston, Warwick, and Burrillville, as well as the outdoor Bank of America Skating Center in Providence, Narragansett Pier Ice Rink in Narragansett, and Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center in Newport.

DEM has an ice safety guide that can be found on its website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Parks, Beaches and Campgrounds" on the homepage, then "Ice Safety" under "Hot Topics". Developed by DEM's Ice Safety Committee, the guide has safety tips, information on ice strength, and information on what to do if a person were to fall through the ice. The first safety tip: never assume the ice is safe. Among the others: never skate alone or on an untested lake or pond; never use the ice for a shortcut; and never go out onto the ice after an animal or a toy.

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For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer