EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The East Brunswick Police Department is urging residents to avoid walking or skating on frozen lakes and ponds, citing the unpredictable and potentially dangerous conditions of natural ice during winter months.
While frozen bodies of water may appear safe, police emphasized that factors like fluctuating temperatures and exposure to sunlight can create weak spots, making the ice unstable. Ice can be several inches thick in one area and only an inch thick nearby, creating hazardous conditions that are difficult to detect. Snow-covered ice poses additional risks by concealing cracks and weaknesses.
“The only guaranteed safe skating ice is at a skating rink,” the department stated, warning parents to teach children about the dangers of venturing onto frozen water and to keep pets from wandering onto ice.
In the event of an emergency where someone has fallen through the ice, officials stress the importance of immediately calling 9-1-1 rather than attempting a rescue. “If the ice did not support the victim’s weight, it will not support you,” the advisory cautioned.
The East Brunswick Police Department’s reminder is a critical safety message as temperatures drop and icy conditions become more common.