The worst time of the year is at our doors

File Photo, Caroline Pailliez
Raynald Hawkin, lifesaving Society

Frederique Giguere

Monday, 10 July 2017 22:34

UPDATE
Monday, 10 July 2017 22:34

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Quebec is poised to begin his period the most critical in terms of drowning and the abundant rain of the last few months has made the rivers even more dangerous.

Sunday only, a man has disappeared into a river of Pierrefonds, in Montreal, and a woman drowned in Sainte-Mélanie, in Lanaudière. A third person was saved in extremis from a pool of Sherbrooke. These three incidents make us fear the worst at the lifesaving Society, which intends to repeat its prevention tips as many times as necessary before entering its darkest period of the summer.

“The two weeks of construction holidays are those where there are the most deaths linked to the water every year, said Raynald Hawkins, president of the lifesaving Society. It’s just logical, there are just more people in the various rivers, lakes and swimming pools of the province. “

High flow

What’s more, the showers, which were nearly ubiquitous in the entire province of Quebec since the spring, could have increased the risk of drowning. The reason is simple : the more water in the rivers, the more the volume increases and the more powerful the flow, explained Mr Hawkins.

Up here, there are almost the same number of drownings this year than last year. At the same date in 2016, 25 people had drowned this year, the lifesaving Society into account 26.

Prevention tips

• Never venture into a river that is unknown to us
• Awareness of the hazards that surround us
• Plan activities in the river before you venture into it