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Danger to life on the ice: Ruhrverband warns about dams and lakes!
On New Year's Eve 2025, the Ruhr Association warns of dangerous ice surfaces on reservoirs in the Sauerland - entering is strictly forbidden!
Danger to life on the ice: Ruhrverband warns about dams and lakes!
In the last few days the cold season has shown itself in all its glory and winter is approaching in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The frosty temperatures at Christmas have prompted many to seek out the beautiful, snowy destinations in the region. Popular hotspots are the dams in the Sauerland and the reservoirs on the Ruhr, which are considered perfect places for winter walks. But caution is advised!
How Local plus Reportedly, the first delicate areas of ice have already formed on the foreshores of the dams and in protected bays of the reservoirs. The alluring look of these ice surfaces could entice many winter lovers to walk or even ice skate on them. However, the Ruhr Association urgently warns against this: entering the ice surfaces is not only dangerous, but also forbidden. The risks are significant. There is also a high risk of the ice breaking - especially at dams and reservoirs where the water level can fluctuate.
Danger to life due to insecure footing
Of course, many people want to experience the winter idyll, but the dangers should not be underestimated. Those too HSK News highlights that the ice on bodies of water is not uniformly thin or thick. Factors such as ground heat, water flows and warm inflows ensure that cracks can form. Depending on the location, the ice may be thin and may break, even if the weight is slight.
The cold weather has brought some frosty evenings and nights, but many areas are still a long way from a stable layer of ice. Nevertheless, some reservoirs in the Ruhr, such as the Harkortsee, Hengsteysee, Kemnadesee, Baldeneysee and Kettwiger See, have not yet been affected by ice formation. This creates a certain level of security if other dangers no longer manifest themselves.
What to do in an emergency?
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation and break into the ice, you need to act quickly, as the Bad Staffelstein water rescue service explains. Hypothermia, loss of strength and the risk of drowning are the biggest risks for someone who falls through the ice. Self-rescue requires great skill: it is best to lie flat on the ice and crawl to distribute the load evenly. Otherwise there is a risk that the ice will break again.
In an emergency, rescue should always be carried out by others from land so as not to put the rescuers in the same danger. Aids such as boards or poles can help rescue the person who has drowned. For this reason, it is also important not to take your own risks.
So, stay cautious during this wintry season and enjoy the frosty beauty of nature from a safe distance. The winter wonderland probably looks more beautiful than it feels!