According to the Lifesaving Society of Canada, nearly 500 people die every year in water-related incidents and 61 per cent of those occur in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and waterfalls.
Almost just as many occur while swimming and boating, but many of those are preventable if the person had taken steps to ensure their safety, said Cameron Taylor, president of BOATsmart!.
One of the best ways to improve your safety on the water is to get a pleasure craft operator’s card, said Taylor. Anyone operating any kind of motorized boat, regardless of the size of the motor, is required by federal law to have one of those cards.
Passing the test requires people to know the general responsibilities and the rules of navigation and right of way.
