Drowning deaths in British Columbia, Canada rise sharply; safety groups urge people to wear life jackets

 

 

 

British Columbia has seen a surge in drowning deaths this year. According to the BC and Yukon Lifesaving Society, at least 30 people drowned in the province between January and July alone, up from 20 deaths during the same period last year. The increase in deaths is alarming, and safety groups have urged people to wear life jackets when they go out on the water.

Most of the victims were involved in activities such as swimming, boating, kayaking and paddleboarding. The main reason for the rise in the number of deaths is that people were not wearing life jackets in all of these accidents. Police have confirmed that a 58-year-old man who lost control while paddleboarding on Hayward Lake in Mission and a couple who were involved in an accident on Browning Lake in Squamish were not wearing life jackets. And no one on board a charter fishing boat that sank near Roberts Bank with 10 people on board was wearing a life jacket. One person has died and six are missing.
The majority of drownings in the province occur in natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and the ocean. The easy access to such places can give people a false sense of security, said Sandra Riches, executive director of B.C. AdventureSmart.

Many people are taking risks beyond their swimming skills, which is what causes accidents. Safety experts remind us that water recreation can only be safe if we follow the advice of planning our trips properly, getting the necessary training and carrying the necessary safety equipment.