2023-Sep-08
The ICU Campaign Wants Swimmers and Paddlers to be Seen on the Water
With the increase in traffic on our waterways, one Muskoka cottager is encouraging swimmers and paddlers to be seen when out on the water to increase the safety of these activities and to cut down on marine fatalities.
Martha Robinette, founder of ICU Safety Aware, is now selling florescent hats and stickers at local Muskoka retailers and online through her website www.icusafetyaware.com to raise awareness about high-visibility gear on the water. In a news article Robinette recounted her own close call when she was on her paddle board and saw a plane coming in. She didn’t know if the pilot could see her on the water and described having a “deer-in-the headlight moment.”
Whereas children’s gear tends to be bright and vibrant colours, adult gear and items such as lifejackets and paddles are often black, grey or more muted tones. The neon colours in ICU Safety Aware’s hats are designed to be seen and the holographic stickers can add a flash of colour to kayaks, paddles, canoes, water skis, wakeboards, helmets and anything else they can stick to.
For more on the initiative, visit icusafetyaware.com.