Remember to stay safe on the ice this time of year in and around Kuna

Yes, that's my two boys skating on Indian Creek in Kuna on Sunday. Nicola and I were both with the boys, and we made sure that the temperatures had been below freezing for more than three consecutive days and that the area the boys were skating on was thick enough to hold their weight. I encourage parents to talk to their children about ice safety.
As you may recall, a Kuna teen fell through the ice at Sego Prairie Pond last year and could have been killed if not for the heroic actions of a couple of neighbors.
At the time of the accident, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office issued some reminders about the dangers of playing on ice-covered water:
Ice Safety
• Always consider ice covered waterways unsafe.
• The thinnest ice is most often in the center of the water body.
• Never go out on the ice alone. Have your partner walk a good distance away from you. If you fall through, your partner can call 9-1-1.
• Never drive on the ice. This includes motor vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles.
• Slush on a water body is dangerous. Slush indicates the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom.
What should I do if I fall through the ice?
• Stay calm. Have your partner call 9-1-1.
• Try to swim onto the ice using your hands and/or ice claws and kicking your feet. If the ice breaks, keep trying. Remember, the thinnest ice is in the center of the water body.
Read the full story in this week’s Kuna Melba News.