CENTRE WELLINGTON – On the heals of Drowning Prevention Week, one of Centre Wellington’s deputy fire chief offered some tips to stay safe on local waterways.
Jonathan Karn says many of their calls are to the Grand River for tubers who have run into trouble.
“They get into parts of the river that they are not familiar with or they’ve underestimated the fact that its a natural waterway and then they get somewhat scared and they want to exit,” explained Karn. “They don’t want to go to the end, or they’ve lost their tube, or their tube is deflated for some reason.”
However Karn said he would never discourage someone from calling 911 and if you believe you are in danger, do not hesitate to call for a rescue.
The Grand River Conservation Authority is also helping limit those types of calls by providing guests with a non-emergency number they can call to get help.
“They’ve put their non-emergency security number on the wristbands you get now at the Elora Gorge so their staff are able to coach people from the top…to get back going again,” said Karn. “That has probably decreased our calls over to that area which is really helpful.”
Other tips to stay safe:
- Wear a Transport Canada approved personal floatation device.
- Never consume alcohol while swimming or on the water.
- Know where you entered the river and keep track of your location.
- Don’t overestimate your swimming ability.
- Always enjoy the water with a buddy, never on your own.
