With the Victoria Day long weekend behind us, the season of warm-weather fun has begun 鈥� and for many Islanders that means jumping in a boat or heading to the beach.
With as many as 9.4 million Canadians expected to go boating this summer, this is a good time to remember that in a typical year, 80 people in British Columbia don鈥檛 come back from their adventures on the water.
Out here on the West Coast, a lot of us fancy we know more about the water than do our prairie cousins 鈥� after all, we鈥檙e surrounded by the ocean. Sadly, too many of us don鈥檛 know enough to treat water 鈥� fresh, salt, big, small 鈥� with the respect it deserves.
About 200 people die in boating accidents every year in sa国际传媒, with 6,000 being injured.
We ignore a few simple rules that can keep us alive.
Alcohol and water don鈥檛 mix. Don鈥檛 drink and swim. Don鈥檛 drink and boat.
If you鈥檙e going to be around water, learn to swim. Even if you鈥檙e a good swimmer, wear a life jacket when you鈥檙e in a boat.
Take a boating course, and remember you are required to have a pleasure-craft operator鈥檚 card.
Make sure your boat is prepared. Check the engine and other systems, and carry all the required safety equipment.
Watch out for the kids, whether on the boat or on the beach.
If you鈥檙e going swimming in a less-travelled area or heading out on a boat, tell someone where you are going.
Summer鈥檚 on the way. Make it one of happy memories.
