The Patrika
ThePatrika
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“BRIDGING COMMUNITIES”
Friday, July 20th, 2018
Recreational water safety tips
W
ith hot weather forecast through the long weekend for much of the province, Emergency Management BC and the BC Coroners Service urge residents and visitors to take extra care in and around rivers and lakes. Many lakes across the Interior of B.C. are flooding, including Okanagan Lake and Osoyoos Lake. Boaters are asked to keep their wakes low to reduce shoreline and property damage, watch for floating debris, and keep some safety measures in mind while on the water. Regional districts may have regulations in place for lakes; boaters are advised to check first before heading out.
All recreational boaters, including paddlers, should wear a properly fitted personal floatation device (PFD). Children, non-swimmers and weak For updated information on flood- swimmers should wear a PFD anytime affected areas, and tips to help plan they are in or near the water. your weekend, please visit: www. Visitors to B.C. should understand emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca the possible dangers in or near B.C.’s Here are some tips for boaters to ensure lakes and rivers. These include sudden drop-offs into deep water; unexpected, their safety and minimize damage: underwater obstacles; and unstable or Wake height should be no more than slippery rock edges above cliffs and 30 centimetres. waterfalls. Waters in B.C. are also frequently much colder than in other Large and heavier boats create damcountries or provinces. If you are hostaging waves, even at low speeds, so ing, someone from out of town, be sure extra caution is needed when cruising to warn them of these potential hazards. the lake. Keep in the centre, whenever possible. Avoid consuming alcohol when swimming, boating or performing any waterSmall and light boats should remain based activity. Impairment greatly 300 metres from the shoreline, whenincreases the chances of an accidental ever possible, or travel in the centre of drowning. the lake when approaching shorelines. Travel under 10 kilometres per hour Be aware of the water conditions where within 300 metres of the shoreline. you are planning your activities. Check the weather forecast before heading When operating at no-wake speed, trim out, and also do a visual inspection the drive or outboard to allow the boat of the area. Do not head down a river to proceed with smallest wake possible. without being aware of the water condiWatch for debris and submerged logs. tions further downstream. If there are warning signs posted, obey them. The most recent data available from the BC Coroners Service shows accidental Never dive into unknown waters. Undrowning deaths tend to spike each expectedly shallow water, or hidden summer, with the numbers beginning obstacles underwater, can easily prove to increase in May and continuing to fatal. Diving from cliffs or from other rise through August. A report for 2016 great heights is exceptionally risky. drowning fatalities shows a total of 47 Never swim alone. Always have a budaccidental drownings, with more than dy and keep an eye out for each other. one-third of those deaths occurring in the southern Interior region of B.C. Visit the Canadian Red Cross or the Lifesaving Society websites for water Here are some water-safety best safety tips. practices to consider over the long weekend:
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