Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to ask members of the public who will be enjoying the waterways to be diligent about safety.
On May 10, 2024, at 11:20 a.m., Bracebridge OPP officers responded to a 9-1-1 call regarding a canoe with four people on board capsized in the Muskoka River near Holditch Street in Bracebridge. All four people, two adults and two children, aged 9 and 10, entered the water. Fortunately, the children were wearing life jackets in the frigid water, and all four individuals made it to shore, where they were assessed by Muskoka EMS. One adult was transported to the hospital for further, non-life-threatening care.
If you are considering being out on the water in any type of vessel this spring, please remember that the water is still very cold, and that can inhibit your ability to save yourself. Also, remember that life jackets, or personal flotation devices, are available in a variety of sizes. Your life jacket can only keep you afloat if it fits you. Younger children will slip out of an adult sized life-jacket. Ensure that you have done your research and have the necessary safety equipment on board and always share your plan with a person on land so that if you encounter trouble, it will be available to emergency services.
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You have to have one PFD per occupant. But adults don’t actually have to be wearing theirs. The article says nothing about how many PFDs were in the boat, just that the children were wearing theirs. So, back to my original comment: By what law would OPP charge people for not wearing PFDs?
Bill 76, Life jackets for life act. 2021
There must be a life jacket for all passengers on board.
If you don’t know that, you shouldn’t be in a boat. Be safe.
Lol if you dont know the answer is that they had no lifejackets, dont go out on the water.
What law would they be citing to make such a charge?
Why are the OPP not charging people who don’t wear PFD s?