Tesoma pool to host public ice-escape training

Tesoma swimming hall will host an artificial ice floe escape exercise on Thursday 22 October from 14:00 to 18:00, Aamulehti reports.

Participants will practise climbing onto a floating ice platform under expert supervision. To make the scenario realistic they can wear winter clothes, a suit and boots or try getting out while wearing skis. Anne Hiltunen, a water safety expert with the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Association (SUH), says the exercise quickly shows how cold water combined with wet clothes, boots or skis hinders movement and makes exiting the water difficult. The event is open to everyone. Attendees should bring a swimsuit and towel and warm clothing for afterwards; other equipment will be provided on site.

SUH statistics show Finland averages about 133 drownings a year, roughly 16 caused by falling through ice, and 82 percent of ice drowning victims are men. Most incidents occur on inland waters. In 2021 there were as many as 25 fatal ice accidents. Recent coverage highlighted lower summer drowning numbers in Pirkanmaa, underscoring local efforts to improve water safety summer drownings in Pirkanmaa.