STRICT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33878, 25 June 1975, Page 13

STRICT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Stringent safety measures ensure that Lake Ida is a safe haven for the thousands of skaters who visit the frozen expanse of ice each week-end during the winter season.

The president of the Lake Ida Winter Sports Association (Mr A. E. Lyttle), who has occupied that position since 1964 and has been an identity at the lake for the last 28 years, said that the association had appointed a safety officer (Mr Barry Spratt). He and his family are responsible for checking the depth of the ice and marking; off the unsafe areas. These are encircled by brightly painted

red markers and are forbidden territory for skaters.

Ladders and ropes are placed in easily accessible positions around the lake in the event of any emergency.

“Provided the air temperature is at freezing point or below, the ice is safe to skate on,” Mr Lyttle said. He added that the best ice, commonly known as black ice, usually occurred at the start of the season. Mr Lyttle said that the association had received a grant of $lOO from the Ministry of Recreation and Sport and this would be used on further safety equipment.