As drownings tend to peak between mid-July and mid-August, the Quebec Lifesaving Society is warning Montrealers to stay vigilant while enjoying the sun.
"This is the time of the year where we have the most drownings, not only in Quebec but also in all of Canada,"said the director of the Quebec Life Saving Society, Raynald Hawkins, whose group is promoting their yearly anti-drowning campaign.
This weekend saw the drowning of a 15-year-old in the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, and the disappearance of a man previously seen swimming by the shore of Pointe-aux-Trembles. Searches resumed today for the man described as being his 60s.
While the numbers of lifeguards going into training has remained about the same compared to last year, many more are in demand so pools and beaches can lengthen their hours open.
"It's a summertime job, and that's why sometimes we have some difficulty, like this year, to recruit [more lifeguards]," he explained.
For the rest of the summer, Hawkins recommends that parents keep their children at arms length and that they be attentive to others swimming alongside them at pools. He stresses you should never pass off wearing a life jacket while boating.
"80 per cent of drowning victims we see aren't appropriately wearing their life jackets," he said. He estimates that 20 lives could be saved annually in Quebec if more people wore them.
Hawkins also recommends you never swim alone or drink while boating — even if you're tempted to just have a drink or two while fishing.
"When you drink only one beer inside your boat it's equivalent to three drinks on land," he said, noting that rocky waves and bright sun can exacerbate intoxication.
—Miriam Lafontaine