Life jackets can save lives at the beach, and Grand Bend offers free rentals

Those swimming in Grand Bend can rent life-jackets while on the beach, officials with Lambton shores say — a reminder after several drownings in area waterways this summer. 

The life-jacket rental program at Grand Bend Beach has been in place for about a decade, said Ashley Farr, a director at the Municipality of Lambeth Shores. It was initially started to reinforce Grand Bend's status as a Blue Flag beach, a designation that requires high safety standards, as well as high environmental management and water quality.  

"The program has been fairly successful over the years," Farr said. "So we're just continuously trying to promote its availability and beach safety throughout Drowning Prevention Week." 

This year, the water safety-themed week comes amid a spate of recent drowning deaths in the London area, including the drowning of a 17-year-old in Chatham, an 18-year-old man in Ipperwash, and a 35-year-old man in Port Burwell.

Risks apply to everyone, even strong swimmers.

People who only go to the beach once or twice a year may not have their own life-jackets, said Stephanie Bakalar, a spokesperson for the Lifesaving Society. Lending programs becoming more common at Ontario's beaches, and even in some public libraries, where they're available for multi-day rentals, Bakalar said.  

Even though life-jackets are commonly used — and legally required — when boating or far out in deep water, any idea that swimming at the beach is not dangerous is a misconception, Bakalar said. It can be difficult to tell how deep water is and where a drop-off might be, as well as what hazards could be present, or how big the waves could become, she said. The dangers apply to anyone, regardless of swimming ability, she added.

"If the waves knock you down and you can't regain your footing, you could drown." 

Some increasingly popular beach activities are risky to begin with, but especially without a life-jacket, Bakalar said. 

It's become more common for people to bring inflatables intended for pools — picture those glittery unicorn floaties — brought to the beach, Bakalar said. Because they float, they seem perfectly safe, even for non-swimmers, but they can easily deflate, and take a swimmer out much further than intended, she added. 

"You are brought out over your head so quickly and you're so far from shore and now you can't get back," she said. "Someone falls off, now they can't swim. It's an absolute recipe for disaster." 

A change in attitude surrounding life-jackets is needed, Bakalar said. There's a common perception that they are only for inexperienced swimmers or children, but the reality is that everyone should have one, Bakalar said, explaining that about 35 per cent of open-water drownings occur while people are swimming. 

To encourage safety at Grand Bend, the Lambeth Shores website gives more information not only about the life-jacket rentals, but also about structural currents and their flag system, which provides information about daily water conditions. 

"We also have a beach camera on our website," Farr added. "People can actually see before they come."