THUNDER BAY – Summer is just around the corner, and so too is a recreation that still leads to tragedy on waterways across this province.
Statistics from the OPP show that there is good news and bad news when it comes to water and boat safety. The good news is that boating fatalities have reached a 10-year low. The bad news is Ontarians’ refusal to put on a lifejacket continues to lead to avoidable deaths every summer.
With the May Long Weekend upon us, officers with the OPP’s marine unit joined forces with Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Ministry of Natural Resources Thursday to promote the important of lifejackets and personal floatation devices.
They also shared facts about the potential dangers of boating to highlight just how important these PFDs are.
OPP Const. Diana Cole said lifejackets are not practical if they’re simply lying around in a vessel. Tragedies happen in a matter of seconds, so reaching for a lifejacket in the heat of the moment is not going to significantly increase a person’s chance of survival.
"Last year, 2014, we had twenty boating fatalities which is our lowest number in ten years, unfortunately 17 of those fatalities people were not wearing their lifejackets or personal flotation devices," she said.
As the OPP head in to next week's operation, they’ll continue to advise boaters to do their part to stay safe this season. Both the driver and passenger are expected to take responsibility for their own safety by being properly educated on boating safety and by complying with the rules on the water.
They would like to remind people motorized boats are not the only cause of boating fatalities. Accidents involving canoes, kayaks and other paddling crafts are also reported.
The OPP will be working with the Canadian Safe Boating Council and other marine safety partners, to take part in this year's Safe Boating Week, which officially runs from May 16 to May 22.
The OPP wants everyone to be aware that lifejackets and PFD's can mean the difference between life or death.
