The Canadian Safe Boating Council has announced Safe Boating Awareness Week in Canada is happening May 21-27, 2022. As various water recreation spots are opening up throughout the country, the council is helping boaters stay safe on the water. Since 1995, Safe Boating Awareness Week has been a central part of boating safety for Canada’s 16 million people who recreate on the water.
This year’s Safe Boating Awareness Week focuses on five key messages to help boaters stay safe on the water.
- Wear Your Life Jacket – Over 80% of Canadians who drown while boating were not wearing their life jacket or not wearing it properly. There are so many choices for life jackets / personal floatation devices on the market now, it is easy to pick one that suits your “boating style” and is one that you are comfortable wearing all the time you are on the water.
- Boat Sober – Whether it’s prescription drugs, alcohol or cannabis, the use of intoxicants is both irresponsible and illegal. In some provinces, being convicted of impaired operation will also affect your automobile license.
- Take a Boating Course – If you are operating a powered recreational vessel, you should have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card or some other proof of competency. But that is just as start, so consider taking some advanced courses. If your boating preference tends towards paddle, this is the perfect time to enroll in some on water training. Or if you are just starting out, log onto and start your boating in a paddle craft responsibly. The site is not a substitute for on water training, but it does provide a great first step in education about paddle craft.
- Be Prepared, You and Your Vessel – Make sure you and your boat are up to your planned on-water activities. That means you are knowledgeable about your upcoming trip, your boat is properly equipped with the required and good to have safety equipment, the weather is suitable for the voyage, you have sufficient fuel and you have filed a trip plan. Plus, this is not all about you…it is important to keep in mind that by staying out of trouble you will not be putting pressure on rescue resources.
- Be Cold Water Safe – Cold water can severely impact your ability to swim or even just stay afloat. Even the best swimmers will feel the effects of a sudden cold-water immersion. No matter your swimming ability, best chance of surviving an accidental cold-water immersion is to wear your lifejacket!
For more information on boating safety and Safe Boating Awareness Week, visit csbc.ca/en/safe-boating-awareness-week. Happy (safe) boating!
