What’s your excuse?
May
18
Written by:
18/05/2011 8:06 AM
“I don’t want to hear any excuses!” This is a common refrain delivered by parents to their children. Kids seem to be able to come up with the most creative ones in an attempt to avoid everything from doing their homework, to making their beds, to eating their vegetables. As the mother of an eight-year-old, I’m beginning to believe I’ve heard them all!
It was the concept of excuses that struck me late last summer. I was sitting on the end of a dock, enjoying the afternoon sun and I watched lazily as a motor boat sped out around the lake – mom, dad and two kids out for an enjoyable afternoon on the water. “Good,” I thought. “The kids are wearing their lifejackets – good decision.”
But, wait. The parents aren’t? And that’s when it struck me: What is their excuse? The Canadian Red Cross has been providing swimming and water safety education to Canadians for 65 years and we’ve heard lots of reasons for not donning a lifejacket, ranging from “it’s too nice out” to “I’m a good swimmer.” Many boaters think that as long as their lifejacket is in the boat, it’s close enough.
Assuming that you will be able to put your lifejacket on if you need it is one of the most dangerous mistakes that people make. Most boaters who drown never intended to be in the water at all and something can go wrong in seconds. It’s likely that when you really need your lifejacket you may not be able to find it or put it on in time. I t goes without saying that having your child wear their lifejacket is the right decision. But, if something happens, and you’re not wearing yours, will you be able to help them?
According to a Red Cross 10-year study of drowning incidents in Canada, approximately 200 Canadians drown every year while boating. Of those who drown, 87 per cent are not wearing, or are not properly wearing, a personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket. The study also shows that 93 per cent of boating drowning victims were men over 15 years of age.
As we approach the Victoria Day long weekend, a few things are inevitable: many people will be heading to cottages and lakes for the first time this season and, unfortunately, the chance that there will be a boating-related death due to drowning drastically increases.
May 19 is National Lifejacket Day and to encourage all Canadians to remember that “it won’t work if you don’t wear it,” the Red Cross is hosting a contest with 20 family lifejacket packs from Mustang as prizes.
Lifejackets are no longer the bulky, uncomfortable things they once were! They come in great colours and with some of the new styles, you’ll hardly know you’re wearing one until you inflate it. The Cook-Rees Memorial Fund has a great site where you can learn more about choosing a lifejacket or PFD that will suit your lifestyle and water activities.
Parents, this summer let’s all drop the excuses and ensure that everyone in the family is zipped and clipped into their lifejackets before stepping foot in a boat. By doing this, you’ll ensure that every boat trip is a return trip. I know I will.
Guest Blogger: Tanya Elliott, Director, Public Affairs, Canadian Red Cross, Ontario Zone
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