Wearing PFDs should be mandatory
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Updated: July 24, 2009 4:48 PM
Many people take time out to spend on the lakes and rivers of B.C. each year to get in on the fishing action.
Most people plan their trips by packing essentials like rods, reels and bait. There are the exceptional few that pack the necessities to save a life.
Looking at the pictures from Tuesday’s paper, it is very clear these people don’t care about their personal safety on the water or for their loved ones at home that may need to be called to the morgue to identify their body that was recovered from the river.
Not a single one of them was wearing a life-jacket. Perhaps they’re on the floor of the boat – that’s helpful.
It needs to be clear that PFDs are made for a reason. They will save your life!
I have been out on the water and have seen families go by and the only ones on the boat with life-jackets are the children.
What do the adults expect to do when the unexpected happens and the children are left to float alone while they drown?
Boating safety should not be taken lightly, and anyone not wearing their life-jacket should be fined and/or have to retake their pleasure craft operators test, if they even have a licence to begin with.
While fisheries is out there checking for anglers without a fishing licence, they should also be enforcing that while in a boat of any kind one must wear a life-jacket.
There should be no reason that people die out on the water because they were negligent.
Teresa Binkle
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