‘People see beauty, I see danger’: First responders stress dangers of frozen ponds after toddler’s death

HENRICO, Va. (WRIC) — Ice has blanketed much of Central Virginia after winter weather swept through the region. Rivers and lakes across the Commonwealth are frozen over, prompting first responders to warn of the dangers around frozen bodies of water.

"It looks beautiful, you know, and a lot of people see the beauty," said Doug Reynolds, Henrico Battalion Fire Chief. "I see the danger,"

The warning comes after a boy was pulled from an icy pond at a Henrico apartment complex along Shore View Drive on Monday, Jan. 26. Henrico police say the toddler was taken to the hospital where he later died. Officials say an adult who helped pulled the child out of the water was also treated for potential hypothermia.

While police are investigating what led to the tragedy, Chief Reynolds is urging the community to be vigilant around frozen ponds, especially with children and pets.

"It's just best to never go out on the ice just because we cannot get that quality ice that you see up north," Reynolds said.

He wared that the ice isn't thick enough to walk on and says once it breaks the cold water shock can make it nearly impossible to get out on your own.

"The big thing with water is that if you go through, you get like a cold shock and that causes you to hyperventilate," Reynolds said.

Reynolds said if you find yourself in freezing water then you should try not to panic and hold your arms tight to your sides to protect your core from losing heat, and keep your head above water.

If you happen to see someone fall into a frozen pond, you should first call 911, stay on the shoreline and use household items like a ladder or extension cord to try and help rescue them.

"Tie a big loop on it... try to throw it out there two so they can get that around them," Reynolds demonstrated while using an extension cord. "Anything you can throw out there to keep their head above water is what you're going to do."

Reynolds warned against going out into the ice to try and rescue someone.

"You don't want to be the second victim," Reynolds said. "That ice is damaged and it won't take long for you to have two people in the water,"

If you're able to rescue the victim before first responders arrive, Reynolds said you should get them inside, out of their wet clothes and bring their body temperature up slowly using blankets.