As the weather gets warmer, beating the heat by taking a dip in Shuswap Lake seems like a great idea.
According to the Life Saving Society, drowning often occurs unexpectedly. They emphasized that basic swimming ability is crucial for surviving in dangerous water-related situations. There has been a total of 23 drownings this year in B.C. and Yukon.
Franwyn Burnman, president of the Salmon Arm Waves Masters Swim Club, said that drowning can happen in a matter of minutes.
“People that are unfamiliar with the water or anxious around the water can panic,” she said.
Burnman added that it’s important for people to have a certain level of comfort, even for those who aren’t planning on swimming or planning on being in a body of water.
“They [people] can lie on their backs, for example, and just be comfortable and keep themselves afloat so that help can reach them.”
According to Burnman, many of the swim club members take part in the Across the Lake Series, an open-water event across many lakes in the Okanagan that supports “drownproofing”.
Burnman urges Shuswap residents to be mindful around bodies of water all-year round, despite National Drowning Prevention Week being held in July.
“I think another important thing is learning about this lake [Shuswap Lake] when it looks like it’s iced over,” she said.
The Salmon Arm Waves Masters Swim Club holds adult swimming lessons, and there are also lessons for all ages provided by Salmon Arm recreation.
