With spring weather now firmly entrenched and more boaters going out onto lakes and rivers, Safe Boating Awareness Week will begin tomorrow, May 17, across Canada.
According to a release from the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba, boating fatalities have been trending down in the province in recent years. There are, however, still over 100 boating deaths a year nationwide.
“Manitoba has one of the highest boating fatality rates in the country,” said Lifesaving Society Executive Director Lynne Stefanchuk. “This province has some of the best parks and beaches in the country. I’m encouraging all Manitobans to get out and enjoy these attractions safely.”
In their release, the Lifesaving Society recommends five things to boat safely: staying sober, wearing a lifejacket, taking a boating course, preparing both yourself and your vessel, and knowing the risks of cold water immersion.
The Lifesaving Society also says 72 percent of drownings occur from May through September, so the timing of the awareness week is important. Most of those who drown (80 percent) are male, and 22 percent are ages 35-49.
Earlier this spring, two men from Sandy Bay First Nation died when their boat became stranded and first responders were unable to make a rescue due to high winds. The two men attempted to swim for shore, but police have since recovered the bodies of both.
