Ahead of what is expected to be a warm August Long Weekend, first responders are encouraging Calgarians to practice water safety.
The Calgary Police Service (CPS) Marine Unit will be working with the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) to patrol the city’s rivers and encourage water safety practices.
Calgarians can expect to see CPS and CFD members at various boat launch sites and on the water.
CFD members will also be conducting regular water patrols and sharing safety information with boaters while on the water.
The CPS Marine Unit will also be sharing safety information near launch sites and explaining possible penalties and fines for not complying with water safety laws.
Officials remind those planning to go floating, boating, paddle boarding, or kayaking down the Bow and Elbow rivers, or enjoying a community lake, that where there is water, there is risk.
This means everyone should be wearing a properly fitted and tightened life jacket or a personal flotation device (PFD) at all times.
When paddle boarding, wearing an ankle leash on a standup paddleboard on the river is very dangerous as you can get tangled up and pulled under water. Officials advise to leave the lease at home when planning to use a standup paddle boards on the river. Good practice is also to put your contact information on your board in case you fall off or lose your board.
Even experienced boaters can easily run into unexpected trouble, including quick changes in water flow rate, direction, and currents, unexpected weather changes, faulty rafts, boats, or PFDs.
Officials say throughout the summer months, there will be ongoing efforts to maintain a high visibility uniform presence at Calgary’s parks and pathways where rafters, boaters, and floaters start and finish their trips.
It’s also required that any water vessel have life-jackets or PFDs worn by all passengers at all times, a sounding device like a whistle, a buoyant heaving line (throw-bag) no less than 15 metres long, and a water bailer.
In an effort to keep the city’s waterways family-friendly, police say officers will also enforced regulations around consuming and/or transporting alcohol and drugs, which it says is dangerous and illegal.
Other tips from the Calgary Police Service for those looking to have fun on the water this summer:
- Always make the safety of yourself and others a prioritywater qua
- Assess the swimming skills of those in your group
- Always wear a life-jacket and check the size and weight restrictions and ensure the life-jacket fits properly, remember to zip up all zippers, click all buckles and pull straps to properly tighten
- Plan ahead: check weather conditions, river flow rates, lity reports and safety advisories
- Bring the right supplies: a first aid kit, cellphone, bottled water, hats and sunscreen, a whistle or air horn, and a paddle to help you control your vessel
- Never tie watercrafts together on the river
If you or another boater are in danger, or you suspect someone is boating impaired, call 911.