2023-Jul-07
Heading Out for a Paddle? Be Safe
It’s a beautiful sunny day. And you or your family or your guests can’t wait to get on the water. The canoe is just sitting there on the dock so what better way to spend the afternoon on the water than to hop in a canoe, get a tan and soak in nature. There’s no motor, people will be close to shore so what could go possibly wrong – even if the people in the canoe are totally inexperienced?
Troubling numbers have emerged about the use of canoes and the drowning fatalities associated with them. It seems that people look at canoes as one of the safest water activities. But nothing could be further from the truth. Last year’s OPP fatality data showed canoes tied with fishing boats as the vessel type associated with the most drownings. In fact in 2022 unmotorized vessels accounted for 48% of marine fatalities in Ontario. The trend has been similar in recent years with canoes accounting for 37% of marine fatalities in 2021 and 38% in 2020.
The most common boating incidents causing fatalities are capsizing, falling overboard, and being swamped and all these can easily occur in a canoe. Most importantly, the overwhelming commonality in drowning fatalities across the country and across the years is that of those who drowned, regardless of vessel type, is that between 80 and 90% of the victims were not wearing lifejackets.
What can you do?
The answer really is obvious. Be aware of who is hopping in your canoe and what their abilities are. What’s the weather conditions? Can you keep an eye on them? And have them wear a lifejacket! Lifejackets save lives. And don’t fall for “but I’m a good swimmer” because most people have never ended up unexpectedly in the water – they can panic, they may be injured, or the water may be cold – but if they are wearing a life jacket they will survive.
Make sure you are properly equipped
Transport Canada requires each person aboard have a properly fitting PFD of lifejacket. You’ll also need:
- a sound-signaling device
- 15m tow rope
- an extra paddle
- bailer or hand pump
- flashlight
A first aid kit is always a good idea too.
Remember that the equipment must be in good working order, easily accessible and useable by everyone on board.