36 - Wednesday, June 25, 1986 - North Shore News

WITH SUMMER weather here,
the Canadian Red Cross reminds
boaters and swimmers of some
important safety facts.

® More than 50 per cent of all
drownings in Canada are alcohol
related.

¢ “Sudden death on immersion’’
accounts for the deaths of many
aquatic sports enthusiasts, among
them sw’mmers, boaters and water

skiers. Significant numbers of
drowning victims have a raised
blood alcohol level.

® The Criminal Code of Canada
prohibits ‘the operation: of a vessel
by anyone. who ‘is’ impaired - or

whose blood alcohol ievel is 0.08 .
per cent or greater. Both offenses .

are punishable on summary con-
viction.

© Unlike driving on streets. and
highways, boaters, swimmers and
water skiers have few . defined
limitations such ‘as marked road-
ways and “distance, indicators to
guide. their. movements. The in-

fluence of alcoho! on these aquatic -

sperts enthusiasts. is’ potentially
more hazardous than on operators
of motor vehicles.

* Contrary to popular belief, if
a water skier or boater travelling at
a high speed over the water hap-
pens to fall; injuries sustained on

impact are potentially as Serious as”

those’ froma fall.on a hard sur-
face. Broken bones and torn mus-
cle tissue can result from such
spills. If alcohol! is involved, the

potential of. these accidents is :

greatly increased. .
DROWNINGS

® One third of all drownings in
Canada. are. boating related and
more than 50. per cent involve the
use of alcohol and/or drugs. Most
of these alcohol/drug-related
fatalities occur among people be-
tween the ages of 16 and 45.

© After a few. hours on the
water, the fatigue caused by wind,
sun, glare, ‘noise and other
boating-related influences reduce:
the operator’s ability to observe
and react. If fatigue is combined

with alcohol, these ‘effects are in-

tensified.
eA significant proportion of all

drownings in Canada are caused”

by the victim ‘losing his balance
and falling into the water. Autop-
sies have-’shown- that more than
one third ‘of these victims: (mostly
males) are impaired by alcohol.

¢ Following ‘neglect to wear! a-

lifejacket.“or* ‘pérsonal  fictation®
device (PFD), the use of alcohol ¢r
drugs is the.second most important
contributing factor to boating’
fatalities in Canada.

© In cold water, the body starts
losing _heat'-almost immediately,
much faster'than-on land. The ad-
dition of alcohol.dulls the senses,

impairs coordination and increases |

body heat loss.
. REDUCES VISION

‘© Because it slows the reflex
mechanism regulating the amount
of light entering the eyes, alcohol
reduces vision so that additional
light is required to see dimly lit ob-
jects. The safety of inebriated
boaters or swimmers may be jeop-
ardized when sudden changes in

light conditions cause temporary
blindness. —~

© Twelve ounces of beer are the
equivalent of five ounces of table
wine or 1% ounces of liquor. It
takes at least one hour for the
body to metabolize a single bottle
of beer or its equivalent. Cold
showers, exercise, coffee or other
drugs will not spced this process.
Only time will eliminate the effects
of alcohol on the system.

*Depending on
cumstances of alcohol consump-
tion, an individual’s blood alcohol
level could continue to rise, even
after drinking has ceased and

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’ Make your best deal

sale ends July 4, 1986... |

aquatic activity has begun.
TIRE RAPIDLY

@Even strong swimmers tire
rapidly in cold water and after just
a few minutes are unable to help
themselves.

* A person wearing a personal
flotation device can reduce heat
loss by nearly 50 per cent by re-
maining still in the water and
assuming the Heat Escape Lessen-
ing Posture — keep the head out
of the water, pull your arms close
to your sides and lift your legs to
protect the groin.

—

OUTBOARDS.

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Your Mercury Outboard
Headquarters

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Parts

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N. Vancouver