With the Victoria Day long weekend here, boaters and other pleasure craft users are reminded to be wary on the water.
Safe Boating Awareness Week (May 18-24) educates the public on essential boating safety practices.
While it鈥檚 not legally required to wear a lifejacket, it is mandatory to have a personal flotation device for everyone aboard a watercraft.
Kyle Weins, a boating safety officer with Transport Canada, stressed the importance of lifejackets.
鈥淭hey do save lives. When you are near water or on the water, you want to be sure your life jacket is in good condition,鈥� Weins said.
He added that wearing a lifejacket around cold water is particularly crucial due to the risk of cold water shock, in case of an accidental fall into water, which can cause uncontrollable breathing difficulties.
Weins offered several other safety tips for boaters.
鈥淢ake sure you keep an eye out for other pleasure craft on the water, especially paddlers who are harder to see, and commercial vessels,鈥� he advised.
He also highlighted the importance of checking the weather forecast before heading out and being aware of ocean tides.
Weins also recommended talking to locals about potential water hazards if boating in an unfamiliar area.
He reminded boaters that anyone operating a motorized vessel must be at least 16 years old and possess a pleasure craft operator card.
Operating a watercraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal and carries severe penalties similar to those for impaired driving on land.
For further information, download the safe boating guide on the Transport Canada website, which also provides resources for obtaining a pleasure craft operator card.
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