Lifesaving Society Urges Boaters to Buckle Up... Your Lifejacket

National Drowning Prevention Week starts July 16

July 14, 2011

At the mid-summer mark, the Lifesaving Society reports that none of the 12 victims of this summer's boating fatalities were wearing a lifejacket. This continues the trend from 2010 when 22 of 23 boaters who drowned in Ontario (from May 1 to September 30) were found not wearing a lifejacket.

In June, the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario released its review of all accidental drownings in Ontario from May 1 to September 30, 2010. The report recommended wearing lifejackets in small vessels be mandatory.

The Lifesaving Society encourages all Canadians to be prepared for water activities by wearing a lifejacket, keeping their children within arms' reach and learning to swim.

Interim data collected by the Lifesaving Society from media and internet reports of drownings indicate that 29 Ontarians drowned between May 1 and July 10, 2011. While the totals are down from the same period in 2010 (38), the Society confirms that the areas of concern remain consistent.

Men continue to lead with 25 drownings since May 1 – or 8 per cent of all drownings. On a positive note, drownings amongst children under 5 are down and there have been fewer drownings in backyard pools.

As we approach National Drowning Prevention Week which begins on Saturday, July 16, the Lifesaving Society offers important water safety messages to remind Canadians that being safe in and around the water can be simple, fun and prevent a tragedy that may ruin more than your summer. The Society urges Canadians to: Buckle Up – your lifejacket. And, remember, having a lifejacket on board is a good start, but not good enough to prevent drowning.

Alcohol and water make a deadly cocktail. The Lifesaving Society notes that alcohol contributed to 67 per cent of adult drowning deaths in 2010. The Society strongly urges Ontarians to recognize the dangers of alcohol consumption on the water.

When children are in or around the water, it is crucial that their caregivers be within arms' reach and within direct eyesight at all times. When on the beach, parents and caregivers should find out about the water depths and conditions of the day before letting children swim. Assign an adult to watch the children. Most importantly, be vigilant. Go into the water with children so that you can watch them closely. It takes only seconds for the unthinkable to happen.

Everyone should also learn to swim. The Lifesaving Society believes that every Canadian should be able to, at minimum, meet the Canadian Swim to Survive standard (ROLL into deep water - TREAD water for 1 minute - SWIM 50 m). This is the basic swimming skill necessary to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. For more on this, check out the Lifesaving Society's Swim to Survive video (available in 8 languages) on YouTube.

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