With the start of summer vacation and warmer temperatures, more people are venturing onto the waterways for recreational activities and to cool down.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to shed some light on boating-related fatalities over the past ten years, across the province for which personal flotation devices (PFD) would have saved many lives.
Of the 245 boating and paddling deaths in Ontario between 2013, and 2022, only 24 of those who passed away were wearing a lifejacket.
"With more than 41 per cent of the incidents involving a capsized vessel or the victims falling overboard, a substantial number of the deceased boaters/paddlers who were not wearing a lifejacket could have been found afloat and alive had they settled for just having worn the safety device, rather than having it just on board," the OPP stated in the release.
Since the start of 2023, the OPP has investigated eight boating/paddling deaths throughout the province. Six of those deaths, are contributed to a person not properly wearing a PFD.
When heading onto waterways the OPP suggests to always choose a Canadian approved lifejacket, and wear it every time you are out on the water, regardless of whether you are an avid paddler or powerboat enthusiast.
Life jackets only save lives if you are wearing them!
For more information on PFD, visit the Canadian Coast Guard at https://tc.canada.ca/en/