Lifesaving Society, the lifeguarding experts

WATER SMART SURVIVAL TIPS

>Prepare to get wet - Two-thirds of the people who drown never intended to go into the water. If you are not prepared to get wet, you are not prepared to go out.
>Learn to swim - There is no substitute for knowing how to swim. It is never too late to learn.
>Boat sober - Alcohol affects your ability to function in three critical ways. Your balance, judgement and reaction time are affected almost immediately with the first drink. On the water, as on the road - don't drink and drive.
>Be ready for cold water - Cold water robs body heat 25 times faster than air of the same temperature. Even in summer, Canadian lakes are cold enough to threaten your survival. Wearing your PFD increases your survival time: you don't need to expend energy to keep yourself at the surface, and the PFD helps to insulate against heat loss.
If your boat capsizes or you fall overboard, get back in the boat immediately. If you can't right the boat, climb on top. Get as much of your body out of the water as possible, as soon as possible.

WHAT'S YOUR RISK

Check yourself against the characteristics of the typical fishing or boating accident victim. If four or more of these describe you, you are in the high-risk target group.

Male
18-64 years of age
Fishing or boating in small open powerboat
Drinking alcohol
Experienced with small boats
Fishing or boating with a buddy
Standing up
Not wearing a lifejacket or PFD

VIDEOS

Lifesaving Society - Newfoundland and Labrador.
Public Service Announcements

Hunting Safety Announcement (30 secs) - 2 MB self-extracting ZIP file

"Remember wear a life jacket, forget the booze.
Boozing and boating don't mix."

Water Craft Safety Announcement (30 secs) - 2.5 MB self-extracting ZIP file.

"Be water smart...Drive safe...
Boozing and boating don't mix."

Boating Safety Announcement (30 secs) - 2.34 MB self-extracting ZIP file. - (Previously aired June 17-July 23, 1998).

"Remember wear a life jacket, forget the booze.
Boozing and boating don't mix."

If you have difficulty viewing this video once you have downloaded it, try right clicking the file, select properties, and then click on the preview tab.

WATER SMART TIPS FOR A SAFE SUMMER

Five people will drown in Newfoundland waters this summer predicts the Lifesaving Society. More than half of all drownings will occur on weekends, after dark, with the victim being male between 25 and 49. Most incidents will involve a small boat capsizing and alcohol will play a role in over 50% of these incidents. Over 90% of the victims will not be wearing a lifejacket.

Drownings are foreseeable and therefore preventable if people take preventative measures to minimize risk. The Lifesaving Society recommends five tips to prevent drownings this summer:

1. Choose It. Use It.
Wear your lifejacket. Over 90% of drowning victims are not wearing a lifejacket. With new colours and styles, lifejackets are much more attractive and comfortable than they used to be.

2. Don't drink and drive…your boat.
Over 50% of drownings involve alcohol. The same rules for drinking and driving your car apply to your boat.

3. If you're not within arms' reach, you've gone too far.
Closely supervise your children near water. Toddlers 2 - 4 years of age have the highest drowning risk. Most of these deaths happen when the child is left alone and playing near water.

4. Protect your neck.
Diving into shallow water can shatter lives. Over 30 young men are paralyzed each year in Canada as a result of striking the bottom or some submerged object. In addition, another 15 to 20 die from broken necks.

5. Drive your boat responsibly.
Most boating fatalities involve power boats. Keep low to avoid capsizing or falling overboard. Take a boating course.

The Lifesaving Society, Canada's Lifeguarding Expert, reports annually on water-related injuries and deaths. The Society is a national charitable organization working to prevent drowning through its training programs, Water Smart® public education campaign and aquatic safety management services.

For more information on safe boating and self rescue courses, contact the LIFESAVING SOCIETY by telephone at 576-1953,
email at: lifeguard.nl.rogers.com, or drop by the Branch Office at 11 Austin Street.

Do you have any suggestions for the Newfoundland and Labrador Lifesaving Society?

Contact lifeguard@nl.rogers.com with all your questions, comments or suggestions.