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Life jackets an important part of river safety, Medicine Hat fire chief says
With warm temperatures upon us, there is a desire to stay cool, and floating in lakes, ponds and rivers is one option.
Douglas Gill, deputy fire chief with the city, said it’s important to be wearing a proper-fitting life jacket that supports your weight, especially if the river current catches you.
“That’s the one thing that’s really going to save your life,” Gill said.
“Every year, approximately 350 Canadians drown on open water just due to accidents, getting caught in weather. All of those things come into play and are a factor, and you really need to be preventing those by wearing a life jacket.”