Posted on 05/15/2009 5:24:15 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - A 10-year study made by the Canadian Red Cross on drownings and other water-related injuries across the nation showed that fishing topped the list of causes of water-related deaths in Canada from 1991 to 2000.
Of the 5,900 water-related fatalities, there were 889 people who drowned, accounting for 15 percent. It was followed by swimming with 751 cases, playing or walking near water 669, road travel 538, powerboating 427, bathing 394 and canoeing 205.
The study pointed that fishing is a popular Canadian past time, although it was a major source of food and livelihood for aboriginal Canadians. Among the fishing-related deaths that occurred during the 10-year period, 84 percent happened while the victim was aboard a boat, 9 percent from the shore, 4 percent while ice fishing and 3 percent while fishing in water.
Majority of the victims were males. The drowning incidents occurred mostly in British Columbia and Atlantic provinces. Those who drowned often did not wear a flotation device. What worsens drowning incidents while fishing is the ice-cold temperatures of Canadian waters.
The Canadian Red Cross said most of these deaths could be prevented by addressing the six key risk factors of lack of flotation, cold water, bad weather, poor swimming ability, alcohol intake and water current. The savings would average 80 Canadian lives and $150 million a year.
Research be d@mned; I'll take the risk! ;)
Eighty Canadians? Do we get to pick the 80 we’d save? *SNORT* :)
And I suppose driving is the number one cause of traffic accidents.
...I look forward to the day when humanity is sufficiently domesticated that, like chickens, when it rains they’ll stare stupidly into the sky and drown.
[/cynic]
Watch out for those big Northerns and Muskies - they’ll drag you into the water.
For a princess (prior FR communication ;-), you’re pretty funny (and lucky that most WI lakes don’t have offshore winds that case the Coast Guard problems like Lake Erie near Cleveland).
As opposed to fishing in ...?
I'd be willing to bet most of these occurred when the victim was no longer aboard the boat.
Air...you know, when you’re fly-fishing.
The categories are poorly distinguished. Seems like you drown falling off a boat, falling off the shore, going under while wading (like with waders in a river- yikes), and through the ice.
Canada is such a nanny state its ridiculous. A few years a ago, they were considering legislation to make golf courses fence of all the water hazards. All because 3 or 4 people die each year hawking balls in the water trap.
LOL. These folks are obviously deranged.
A link to the actual report would be good, but too much to ask of the Canuck MSM, apparently.
I’m afraid of open water. If I can’t see the shore, I freak out. My ONE weakness, LOL!
Frozen water? No problem. I can hoof it to shore, no matter how far.
Be safe! :)
I'm not an ice fisherperson, but wouldn't venture on the ice beyond a few meters unless on an ice boat or without personal flotation, ice picks, and pushing a 14' rowboat.
Ice fishing IS hard work. It takes a long time to chop a hole big enough for your boat. ;)
I like winter just for the moonlit walks on the lake listening to the ice.
I just fish through last year’s holes.
Well, I COULD handle the schnapps part.. :_)
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