Lifesaving society urges B.C. communities to purchase life rings

The Lifesaving Society in B.C. is trying to increase the number of life rings available to the public at beaches and swimming lakes across the province.

The organization says due to the growing number of unsupervised waterfronts in B.C., the risk of drowning can be offset significantly if communities across the province provide funding for the installation of rings at those locations.

"If someone is in trouble in the water and a bystander sees that, they can grab this life ring and save a life.," Dale Miller, executive director of the B.C. and Yukon branch of the Lifesaving Society told the CBC Early Edition's Rick Cluff.

We don't want the rescuer to go into the water if they can help it, so something like this, you can throw from a distance, will save lives."

Miller says the idea to make the rings available across B.C. came when he witnessed how water safety is handled in parts of Europe.

"They're very common over there and have saved many lives so we thought why not in B.C?"

There are currently 19 beaches and swimming lakes in B.C. that are under lifeguard supervision, 11 of which are located in Vancouver.

Miller says while the society would like to see a lifeguard at every one of the waterfronts in the province, the life rings project would be a cost-effective alternative to drowning prevention with each costing $1,500 to purchase and install..

Six such life rings have already been installed due to an $8,000 donation from the BC Government and Service Employees' Union as a way to honour four people who drowned in Slocan Lake last summer.

Millers says he hopes that donation kick-starts a larger province-wide effort to fund the rings at each needed waterfront.

"This is a very sturdy unit with a life ring and 30 metres of rope attached to it. Any community organization could come together [to fund one]."

"We want people to not have that instant reaction of jumping in the water but realize there is a tool on many beaches...and they can make use of it when an emergency occurs."

To hear more, click the audio labelled: More lifesaving life rings sought for B.C.