WOULD you know how to save a child from a frozen pond? Do you know how to drive on ice?

These are the winter challenges being posed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) as temperatures plummet across Cumbria.

RoSPA has created a new online “Winter Safety Hub,” containing information about what to do in freezing weather.

It also highlights the importance of fire safety over Christmas when using candles.

The online webpage by the UK’s leading accident prevention charity includes a safer journey planner for drivers setting out on long journeys over the festive season.

There's also a winter driving factsheet to help motorists stay safe in poor conditions.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that across Great Britain in 2011, 32 people were killed and 3,912 people were injured in reported road accidents when there was snow or ice on the roads.

There were also six people killed and 672 injured when it was snowing at the time.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said: “With the UK braced for frost, ice and snow, it is a good time to get prepared.

“Driving conditions at this time of year can be treacherous so it pays for drivers to be one step ahead and for employers to also think about keeping their staff stay safe by considering options such as working from home when the snow arrives.”

The dedicated webpage features sections on clearing ice and snow on pavements and how to avoid slips, trips and falls.

Figures show there were over 4,000 admissions to hospital in England last year due to people falling over on snow or ice.

The Winter Safety Hub can be found at www.rospa.com/wintersafety/