THUNDER BAY -- Provincial police and public health officials want those planning to enjoy the great outdoors this long weekend to do it safely.
According OPP Sgt. Mike Golding, the community safety officer for the North West Region, most May-long accidents are preventable.
“If you’re actually able to remember [the long weekend], it probably means you had a safe weekend, and a good weekend,” he said on Friday.
“We’re trying to reach out to the masses and say ‘Hey, if you’re going to do something out there this weekend, try and include an element of safety within it.’”
In 2018, all but two of the 24 fatalities that took place on OPP-monitored waterways involved people not wearing life jackets.
“That’s really unacceptable in this day and age,” Golding said.
The OPP will work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to monitor lakes in the region this weekend.
Golding said safety measures are the best way to avoid getting into legal trouble.
“The key is don’t have alcohol in the boat. Just leave it at the campsite," Golding said. "If you want to go fishing for a couple of hours, go and come back. Just plan ahead.”
Golding also recommending planning ahead for people camping in remote locations.
“Ensure all your equIpment is working properly. The last thing you want to do is get way out there, and your vehicle breaks down or you’re stranded and nobody knows where you are,” he said.
When it comes to alcohol and cannabis, Golding said designating someone to sobriety could end up saving a life.
“You don’t want to get in a situation where you can’t act properly in an emergency situation,” he said.
All-terrain vehicles are also a common feature of May-long festivities.
Hazem Sabeh, a public health nurse on the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's injury prevention team, said protective clothing, wearing a helmet, and not consuming alcohol or cannabis are among the most important safety measures for ATVs.
“The big one is always not wearing a helmet. It’s both necessary for safety, and it is the law,” he said.
“ATVs are capable of speeds over 100 kilometres per hour, and can weigh over 1,000 pounds. So it needs a responsible driver to handle them properly.”
