ST. PAUL – Numerous agencies are reminding the public to exercise caution when they spend time with water activities this summer following the drowning death of two people over the Heritage Day long weekend.
“This past August long weekend was tragic on Alberta waterways seeing the death of two people in unrelated incidents in the Slave Lake and Bonnyville areas of the province,” said the Alberta RCMP in an Aug. 6 press release.
“Whether you are swimming, boating, or enjoying yourself in close proximity to water it is important to understand the potential hazards and take extra precautions,” reads the release.
St. Paul Search and Rescue (St. Paul SAR) agrees.
Penny Fox, public information with St. Paul SAR, says a constant reminder to the public is required. “It’s still summer,” she says. “We go out for the day on the water... We want to have fun... and we’re all excited about it. But sometimes, that’s when we forget about safety.”
“It only takes a few minutes to communicate with someone or to put on a life jacket,” she says.
According to water-related fatalities data by the Chief Medical Examiner for Alberta, compiled by the Lifesaving Society, between 2010 to 2019, there were 403 water-related fatalities in Alberta.
56 per cent of drownings occurred mostly in the summertime from the months of May to September.
23 per cent of these fatalities occurred in lakes or ponds, and 28 per cent occurred on rivers.
The Canadian Red Cross reports that men ages 15 to 44, and children ages 1 to 4 are at the greatest risk of drowning. “Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Canadian children ages one to four,” reads the Canadian Red Cross website.
Life jacket
Robert Tymofichuk, Deputy of Operations at St. Paul SAR, emphasizes the importance of using life jackets or personal flotation devices (PFD) at all times in any water activity, whether they be on a powered or unpowered vessel, when using water toys, and even if someone is a great swimmer.
“To keep your children safe this summer, make sure they always have their PFDs on,” he says.
“In hot weather, it’s common for both kids and adults to resist wearing a PFD. I remember doing the same when I was young. However, my experiences with recovery operations have made me extremely vigilant about water safety.”
Communication
Vern Slonowski is the president of St. Paul SAR. He says ensuring proper communication is set up is also critical.
He says the Lakeland region offers numerous opportunities for recreation on lakes and rivers. “However, many areas lack cell coverage, and even minor issues can escalate into tragedies without proper communication,” he adds.
He strongly encourages people to create a safety plan which involves letting others know where they are, and to ensure they have the necessary safety equipment, especially in cases of emergency.
“Equip yourself with communication devices that can function without cell coverage. St. Paul SAR has implemented Garmin InReach devices that allow us to communicate using satellite technology in areas with no cell coverage, such as much of the North Saskatchewan River,” says Slonowski, providing an example.
“Let’s enjoy our water recreation while ensuring we do our best to stay safe."
Open water
The Canadian Red Cross website also offer some summer water safety tips, including active supervision to children in any water bodies, whether that be in a water park, a beach, a pool, or a bathtub.
The Red Cross also cautions others when heading into open water. According to the organization, it is important not to underestimate the power of currents.
“Swimmers or waders can be swept away in an instant, particularly if non-swimmers or weak swimmers get caught by a current in rivers or out of their depth in abrupt drop-offs,” reads the website.
