The Carmel Police Department shared a critical safety warning on social media, urging parents and caregivers to keep a watchful eye on their children around frozen bodies of water, particularly retention ponds. A recent incident, which could have easily turned into a dire tragedy, involved two young boys playing on a deceitfully frozen retention pond spotted by a vigilant driver who acted quickly to prevent potential disaster. In a statement on their official Facebook page, the Carmel PD underscored the hazard, noting the ice was merely a "thin, slushy layer" covering moving water beneath.
This close call occurred last Thursday around 5:00 PM; the witness did not hesitate, alerting the boys to the danger, calling 911, and staying on the scene until assured of their safety, the boys had managed to leave the ice and retreat to safety by the time officers arrived on the scene, thankfully. The police department's post read, "This wasn’t 'thick ice.'. This was a retention pond with moving water underneath, warm runoff, and only a thin, slushy layer on top." They added, "Had either child gone through, we could have been responding to a double tragedy."
In light of these events, the Carmel PD's message is clear: parents and caregivers should never assume that ice is safe without verification, nor should they assume others are watching over their children. The department stressed the importance of discussing ice safety with children, sharing the story broadly and leading such conversations with the utmost urgency needed to protect young lives. "Parents & caregivers — please: ❌ NEVER let kids play on or near retention ponds, even if it 'looks frozen' ❌ Don’t assume 'other parents are watching,'" the department implored.
As they concluded in their public service announcement, "One witness and one phone call probably saved two lives this week," emphasizing the importance of community vigilance and proactive measures in safeguarding the youngest and often most vulnerable members of society.
