As Ontario Provincial Police officers investigate several recent drownings, the Lifesaving Society is urging those heading to local lakes and rivers to be more cautious.
“As a mother myself and as a drowning prevention advocate, it really does break my heart. I feel for these families,” Stephanie Bakalar, a spokesperson with the organization’s Ontario branch and a former lifeguard, said.
“I want other families to understand that we can prevent drownings, and we can keep your little ones safe as long as we work together and understand the risks and the prevention steps.”
According to a police statement, OPP officers and emergency crews were called to Mille Roches Beach in Long Sault, which is about 15 minutes west of Cornwall, at around 5:45 p. m. on Saturday after a three-year-old boy was reported to be without vital signs. The statement said that despite attempts by off-duty medical professionals to revive the boy, he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Just after 1 p. m. on the same day, emergency crews were called to a home in Wasaga Beach after receiving reports that a 24-year-old Toronto man in a kayak was missing after it tipped over. Officers said Wasaga Beach firefighters found the missing man and emergency crews attempted to resuscitate him but were unsuccessful.
“It is hard for the first responders, it is hard for the bystanders, it is heartbreaking for the family, and it is something that will stick with you forever,” Bakalar said.
Meanwhile, a three-year-old died while visiting Sandbanks Provincial Park in Prince Edward County with family members on Thursday. The child was reported missing after playing with family members in shallow water. Bystanders later found the three-year-old. Paramedics rushed the child to a hospital and despite life-saving efforts, the three-year-old was later pronounced dead.
On July 20, a 24-year-old Toronto-area man was canoeing with several others on East Lake in Prince Edward County when they decided to go swimming. Officers said they weren’t able to get back into their canoes. One person made it to shore; two others were helped by someone nearby while the fourth person didn’t resurface. They were later located by an OPP search and recovery team.
Officers noted that a 51-year-old Toronto man also drowned while swimming in East Lake on July 19. The incident occurred at a local resort.
City News reached out to Ontario Provincial Police on Sunday for an interview but did not receive any responses from their spokespersons available at that time. However, statements confirmed investigations into all incidents are ongoing.
The increase in drownings prompted OPP officers to issue warnings encouraging people to wear life jackets.
“Capsizing or falling overboard are the two leading causes of death in boating incidents, and wearing a life jacket can mean the difference between life and death,” stated their announcement.
“Ontario Provincial Police [have] responded to 10 marine fatalities in eastern Ontario so far this summer. That’s more than double last year’s drowning deaths during this time.”
Bakalar emphasized that drowning “by and large is preventable in all cases.”
“There are some instances where someone may have another issue … because they’ve had a medical incident or something like that,” she told City News.
“Most drownings happen because people are alone or don’t have anyone nearby if they run into trouble or they overestimate their swimming ability or aren’t wearing life jackets.”
Diving into an interview on Sunday near Lake Ontario in Whitby, Bakalar highlighted colder water temperatures, stronger waves and unstable surfaces below as reasons for caution.
From data collected between 2017 and 2021, Bakalar pointed out key reasons for drowning incidents in Ontario: 35 percent occur when someone is swimming; 13 percent take place while playing or working near water; ten percent occur during power boating; and seven percent happen while canoeing.
She mentioned that wearing an appropriate life jacket or personal flotation device is crucial.
A life jacket should fit according to weight class and age guidelines along with approvals from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (and if using it on boats needing approval from Transport Canada). She advised testing out life jackets before use ensuring they fit snugly-if fingers can slide under shoulders easily pulling above ear level suggests it’s too large.
The Lifesaving Society shares additional tips like checking weather forecasts before entering water areas; always swim with someone else; never dive head-first into shallow waters;
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