Five drowned in B.C. this past weekend
Special to The Weather Network
Wednesday, July 24, 2013, 12:00 PM -
In B.C. this past weekend, five more people lost their lives in water-related accidents, upping the summer toll to over 40.
Reasons for the incidents range from being swept away in strong currents, to simply being unable to swim when patrons suddenly found themselves past a drop off in a lake. Despite this, the leading cause of drowning, according to the Lifesaving Society of B.C. and the Yukon, has been people engaging in dangerous activities like cliff jumping.
The Lifesaving Society urges everyone to be more careful this summer in the water, as they’ve seen an alarming increase in people drowning. “Last year at this time, we saw about 25 drownings compared to the over 40 now that we have seen up until this point this year,” said Wendy Schultenkamper of the Lifesaving Society.
With the long dry spell British Columbia has been experiencing, it’s understandable that many have sought out the water for refuge, but it’s important to be aware of the dangers that surround recreational swimming and other water-based activities.
This week, from July 20 to July 27, the Lifesaving Society of B.C. and the Yukon is holding the National Drowning Prevention Week, raising awareness about water safety in an effort to reduce all drowning fatalities and other water-related incidents.
