By Dominic Abassi

Report finds startling facts about drowning deaths

Jun 7, 2016 | 1:42 PM

A new report has uncovered a startling fact about boating-related deaths – 93% of victims are men.
The report, from the Red Cross, looked at drownings across Canada over a 20 year span.
Water safety director Shelley Dalke says young men are most at risk on the water.

“People who are most at risk on the water are males between the ages of 15 and 24. In most cases they weren’t wearing a life jacket and about 40 percent of the time alcohol is involved,” said Dalke.

Dalke says there’s a connection between drinking and life jacket use.

“In most cases, people who drown were not wearing life jackets and people who were drinking alcohol were four times less likely to be wearing a life jacket.”

In most cases, Dalke says, the victims were simply out having fun on the water.

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“70 percent of them were doing recreational activities, like fishing, power boating or canoeing. The most startling fact is that 80 percent of the deaths could have been avoided if a life jacket had been worn.”

On average, 98 people die in water-related incidents in B.C. every year. Most could have been saved if life jackets were worn.