Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue is sharing its boating safety tips, urging people to follow them before hitting the water, saying its volunteers have been on 131 missions this year.
RCMSAR says on those 131 missions, the volunteers have helped 61 people, some from life-threatening situations, spent 4,188 hours on training in the classroom and on the water, and participated in 50 boating safety and community events.
“So far this year, RCMSAR has been asked to help find missing persons on six occasions,” the group said in a newsletter.
“While we can’t share specifics about the outcomes, these missions are tough. Our volunteers are always trained and ready to lend a hand, whether it’s on the water or on land, supporting our communities when they need us most and working to bring people home to their families.”
As the weather warms, RCMSAR says more people will be hitting the water and is asking people to follow boating safety tips, including wearing lifejackets, being sober, ensuring yourself and your vessel are prepared, taking a boating course and be cold water safe.
RCMSAR says over 80 per cent of Canadians who drown were not wearing a lifejacket. Additionally, the group says that cold water can “severely” impact your ability to swim and stay afloat so the best way to survive an accidental cold-water immersion is to wear a lifejacket.
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Laura Brougham
