As the weather warms up and islanders head to the beaches, lakes and pools, Island Health is reminding islanders and tourists to make water safety a priority to prevent drownings and serious injuries.
Last year, the B.C. Coroners Service recorded 23 fatal drownings in the Island Health service area. Though it's less than 2023, which saw 32 drownings, it's higher than the 11-year historical average of 17.
Most drownings, around 80 per cent, happen in natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers, according to the lifesaving society. Deaths are most likely to occur during the summer, namely in July and August, and on weekends.
Men, people with underlying medical conditions like seizures, people with autism spectrum disorder, and newcomers to Canada are at higher risk of drowning, according to Island Health.
“As the weather starts to warm up, now is a great time to improve water safety skills and learn how to swim,” said Neil Arason, injury prevention lead with Island Health, in a news release. “Swimming lessons may reduce the risk of drowning in children under four years of age. Swimming skills are just one part of a robust safety plan, that also includes close, constant, attentive supervision, and learning lifesaving skills.”
For every fatal drowning there are at least three non-fatal drownings, which can result in brain or other organ damage. A review of non-fatal drownings in the Island Health region requiring emergency care and overnight hospital stays over the last five years found that 59 per cent occurred in lakes or the ocean, most commonly in late spring and summer, and mostly in the afternoon or evening.
“Non-fatal drownings can be life-altering. They can cause lasting damage to the brain and other organs,” said Arason. “Our review also found that 27 per cent of non-fatal drownings involved alcohol or other substances – a stark reminder that swimming while impaired puts lives at risk.”
For those enjoying the water this summer, Island Health recommendations include:
- Learn to swim
- Keep young children within arm’s reach
- Stay sober
- Wear a Transport Canada-approved lifejacket or personal flotation device
- In outdoor bodies of water, stay within marked bounds
- If caught in an ocean current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim into shore at an angle
- At backyard pools, designate a sober adult to supervise those in the water, install four-sided fencing with a self-closing and self-latching gate, and empty kids’ pools immediately after use and store them upside down
Island Health is partnering with the Lifesaving Society of BC and Yukon to offer free Swim to Survive programs this summer for children and parents in remote and underserved areas, including Indigenous communities. Swim to Survive aims to teach the essential minimum skills required to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.
"We’re delighted to partner with Island Health to bring life-saving water safety education to communities through our Swim to Survive program,” noted Lenea Grace, executive director of Lifesaving Society, BC and Yukon, in the release.
The society is actively coordinating with schools, municipalities, and local organizations to schedule upcoming sessions for July and August. Communities interested in hosting the program can contact the society by emailing dirkp@lifesaving.bc.ca.
