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Recognizing the importance of lifejackets

Today is National Lifejacket Day and a recent drowning in Slocan Lake highlights the importance of personal flotation devices (PFD).

Today is National Lifejacket Day and a recent drowning in Slocan Lake highlights the importance of personal flotation devices (PFD).

“It really does bring forth the reasoning in why we need to wear our PFDs,” said RDN recreation programmer Anne Porteous. “It (drowning) is a very unfortunate occurrence that happens.”

Porteous said every year 166 Canadians succumb to drowning — 88 per cent of whom are not wearing a lifejacket, or do not have their lifejacket properly secured.

“It is very important to wear a PFD,” she said, noting the national public awareness day is focussed on raising safety standards.

Porteous said Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach is hosting a colouring contest to support National Lifejacket Day. Colouring sheets can be picked up at the centre and prizes are available for participants, who will have their pictures displayed. The deadline for entries is this Friday.

Ravensong Aquatic Centre is located at 737 Jones Street in Qualicum Beach.