Drowning can occur in seconds, and Island Health says with proper training and education everyone can know the signs and potentially save a life.
People in the water often exhibit signs of distress, but Island Health says quite often they are silent, which is why knowing what to look for is the best defence against drowning.
“The person in distress is often silent, sometimes only gasping, coughing or breathing irregularly, with their arms still and angled down,” Island Health said. “Their body is typically vertical, with the mouth just above water and head low, and sometimes only intermittently visible as they struggle to stay afloat.”
Medical health officer Dr. Melissa Wan said almost every drowning is preventable and while there is no “one size fits all solution,” there are actions people can take to reduce risk.
“Wearing layers of protection work together, knowing how to swim, wearing a life jacket, swimming with others and learning the skills to help someone in trouble are ways to prevent drowning,” she said. “As a community, the more layers we put in place, the more lives we protect this summer.”
According to Island Health, there were 17 fatal drownings in the Island Health region last year, with nine in Central Island and seven in the Cowichan Valley.
