{"id":225990,"date":"2026-06-25T14:03:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/?p=225990"},"modified":"2026-06-25T14:03:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T18:03:13","slug":"when-heading-out-on-the-water-make-one-life-saving-choice-opp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/when-heading-out-on-the-water-make-one-life-saving-choice-opp\/","title":{"rendered":"When heading out on the water, make one life-saving choice: OPP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging everyone heading out on the water to make one life-saving choice: wear your life jacket, every time, every ride.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Despite calm conditions and proximity to shore, many boating-related drownings occur when people least expect danger. Most of these tragedies happen in small vessels, like canoes and kayaks, and are preventable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, nearly 80% of all boating fatalities investigated by the OPP involved individuals who were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Adult males accounted for almost 90% of all boating fatalities on OPP patrolled waters. According to the Drowning Prevention Research Centre of Canada<\/a>, 35% of water-related fatalities in Ontario are linked to swimming, while another 13% are attributed to walking, running, or playing near water, accounting for nearly half of all drownings when combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young children, weak swimmers, and non-swimmers should always wear a life jacket when near water, even in shallow areas. Supervision and proactive lifesaving decisions, like wearing a life jacket, are key to avoiding tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What You Can Do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n