Water-related deaths aren’t preceded by a lot of warning. Drowning can happen in seconds. And fortunately, Canadians seem more aware of this fact in recent years and the statistics continue to trend in the right direction.
In 2014, 428 people were reported as having drowned. This figure, according to the Chief Coroner and Medical Examiner’s office of Canada, is the lowest reported amount of water-related fatalities in 25 years.
Despite the statistics demonstrating a gradual reduction, drowning continues to be a serious issue, being the third leading cause of unintentional fatalities worldwide. The Canada Safety Council marked this year’s National Summer Safety Week, May 1 to 7, by reminding Canadians to exercise caution around water.
Water safety, in general, can be a wide-reaching topic, the council states in a press release. Many factors play into each and every incident, including the use of personal floatation devices, the type of body of water, the victim’s age, gender and more. The activity on the water can also play a part, as well as whether the person ever had any intention of even being in the water.
With all these elements at play, there’s a lot to unpack. The best place to start the discussion, then, is to focus on where the majority of drownings occur – during recreational activities. These account for 61 per cent of all drownings, with the most common activities being swimming, walking/running/playing near water and boating, including kayaks, powerboats and fishing boats.
Personal floatation devices (PFDs) are essential any time someone boards a boat. And while Canadian law requires a life jacket on board for each person on board, the Canada Safety Council highly recommends not only that the PFD be there, but that it be worn it at all times.
“A PFD won’t help you if it’s sitting on the seat while you’ve fallen in the water,” the council states.
When purchasing a PFD, make sure it’s approved either by Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard or Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Regularly check that the fastening devices work properly and are unencumbered.
Anyone planning on being around water should also invest in swimming lessons, the council recommends.
“Aside from being an important life skill, knowing even the basics of swimming can make the difference in an emergency situation. Your children, too, should be taught to swim from a young age,” the organization states.
“As proud members of the Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition, the Canada Safety Council knows that drowning remains one of the most avoidable types of fatalities. It’s through awareness, education and pre-emptive safety measures that you can do your part to help keep drowning at bay.”
