With so many frozen lakes and ponds everywhere this time of year, the thought of venturing on the ice is a tempting one. Particularly if you like ice-skating as much as I do! But safety has to be a priority, if you don’t want an ice-skating session with the family to turn into a bad memory, or worse, a tragedy. So remember the basic ice safety rules.

- Don’t venture on ice that’s less than 10cm (4 inches) thick.

- Don’t skate alone. You should always have someone with you in case of an accident.

- Children should not be allowed to skate on a pond unsupervised.

- Do not congregate in one area, particularly if there are a few of you in your party.

- Ice thickness is not consistent. Water currents, particularly around narrow spots, bridges, inlets and outlets, are always suspect for thin ice.

- Beware of ice around partially submerged objects, such as trees and logs.

- Stay away from cracks, seams, pressure ridges, slushy areas and darker areas that signify thinner ice.

- Don’t skate in the dark. Skate only during the day when the light is good and you can see your surroundings.

- You should carry a rope and some ice picks with you at all times on the ice.

- It’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes to take with you, in case you do fall through.