As more and more people are boating on Georgian Bay and Lake Huron this holiday weekend — some sobering statistics from the Canadian Red Cross.
Two newly released 10 year drowning trend reports shows boating related fatalities represent 39 per cent of drowning victims and alcohol was present or suspected in at least 50 per cent of boating drowning.
Speaking with Bayshore Broadcasting News — Red Cross official Shane Elkmann says the reports show that adult males between the ages of 25 to 34 are most at risk for drowning while boating.
He says unpowered boating deaths involving canoes or kayaks represent 36 per cent of all boating deaths with males between the ages of 15 and 24 at greatest risk.
Elkmann says environmental factors like currents or unexpected waves are the main threat.
For power boating accidents, males between the ages of 25 and 74 are at greatest risk with 91 per cent of victims failing to wear a lifejacket.
Elkmann says the simple message they want to get out is wear a lifejacket and leave the booze on shore.