First responders urge water safety this Canada Day long weekend
Posted Jul 2, 2017 08:54:07 AM.
Last Updated Jul 2, 2017 09:31:16 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a message first responders try to get out every year: if you’re heading out on the water, do it safely.
But every year there seem to be tragedies.
Research by the Canadian Red Cross shows hundreds of Canadians die every year due to drowning– and over 87 per cent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Chris Terner with The Marine Unit’s says they’ll be out on waterways in full force over the next few days, but they’re not trying to wreck people’s fun on the water.
“We have enough to do without trying to pull people out of the water. Safety is important to us. Loss of life is really tragic when people can be preventative with life jackets and avoiding alcohol on the water,” he said.
Terner says they’ve been surprised with how busy the start of the summer has been, be it from a person not wearing a life jacket to a person being caught off guard by environmental conditions.
He couldn’t say if there is one common mistake people make. His best advice if you’re going out on the water: come prepared.
“Transport Canada requires that you have a life jacket in the boat. We’re looking forward to everyone coming out and enjoying the water, just do so safely.”
Some other tips to keep in mind if you’re near water this Canada Day long weekend include:
- Keep children within arm’s reach, in and around water.
- Don’t drink and boat.
- Supervise and swim with children only when free of alcohol, drugs and distractions.
- Know what to do in an emergency, including CPR and calling 911
- Ensure that children and weaker swimmers wear lifejackets or personal flotation devices (PFD) in and around water.
