Latest news with #B.C.EmergencyHealthServices
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Men accounted for 77% of drowning deaths in B.C. last year, coroner says
Of the nearly 100 drowning deaths in B.C. last year, 77 per cent were men, according to a report from the B.C. Coroners Service. This information comes just a few weeks after the drowning death of 27-year-old international student Jatin Garg in Kamloops, B.C., who died after he went into the Thompson River to retrieve a volleyball in early July. Only a few weeks prior to Garg's death, a 29-year-old Burnaby man drowned in Cabin Lake, in Cypress Provincial Park. According to police, he had been swimming across the lake with his fiancée when suddenly he started to struggle. "This is something that is preventable, and that makes it even more tragic," said Lenea Grace, the Lifesaving Society's executive director for B.C. and Yukon. Grace said 2024 was not unusual, as men often make up the majority of drowning deaths each year in B.C. "Men tend to engage in riskier behaviours, overestimate their physical abilities, and we also see trends in males not wearing PFDs (personal flotation devices) while boating and fishing as well," she said. "There could be some, you know, issues about wanting to be cool or, you know, thinking they don't need it because they know how to swim. And the reality is that when people are boating, everyone needs a life jacket, no matter what your age or ability or gender is." This week is National Drowning Prevention Week — an annual reminder about water safety — prompting the Lifesaving Society, B.C. Emergency Health Services and the B.C. Coroners Service to share statistics on drowning deaths in an effort to educate British Columbians about preventing deaths in, on and around water. The report shows there were 98 drowning deaths in B.C. in 2024, more than half of which occurred from June to September. Thirty-three of those deaths happened in the Interior Health region. Grace said that's largely due to Okanagan Lake, where 28 drowning deaths have been recorded in the past decade. Of the many bodies of water across B.C., the Fraser River and Okanagan Lake have been the most deadly in terms of drownings over the past 10 years. Grace said that's largely due to people not wearing lifejackets and using substances while on the water. Twenty-two of the drowning deaths in 2024 happened when someone fell into the water, followed by 18 where the individual was swimming and 14 deaths that happened in the bathtub. "We really want to encourage parents to actively supervise their children and watch their kids, not your phone, when your kids are in the bathtub," Grace said. Not included in the coroner's report is how many newcomers to Canada die as a result of drowning, but Grace said they are four times more likely to be unable to swim compared to people born in Canada. "It's really important that new Canadians receive this kind of crucial water safety education," Grace said. "We really want to encourage families to enroll their children and themselves. Adult lessons are available ... or, at the very minimum, swim to survive, which is the Canadian minimum standard for surviving a fall into water. She is urging everyone in B.C., whether a newcomer or not, to take swimming lessons if they haven't already.
Global News
23-07-2025
- Health
- Global News
Okanagan's ‘jewel' deemed deadliest lake in B.C., prompting safety reminder
Okanagan Lake is a huge draw for locals and visitors alike. Often referred to as the 'jewel' of the Okanagan, the lake offers opportunities for all sorts of water activities, including swimming, boating and paddling. However, the popular lake also has a dubious distinction. According to a new report by the B.C. Coroners Service, Okanagan Lake is the deadliest lake in the province. The report states that out of the 244 accidental lake drownings over the past decade, between 2014 and 2024, 28 have occurred in Okanagan Lake. 'It's too many,' said Kelowna resident Brett Haney. Those 28 deaths are far higher than that of the second deadliest lake in B.C., Harrison Lake, which saw 12 people drown in the same time period. Story continues below advertisement 'These numbers, they're staggering and they are really tragic,' said Brian Twaites, paramedic public information officer with B.C. Emergency Health Services. The report also stated that 261 people unintentionally drowned in rivers and creeks across the province in the last 10 years, with the Fraser River claiming the most lives at 53. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to the Coroners Service, the vast majority of drownings in any type of body of water involved males — 735 males compared to 200 females. The report also revealed that the use of alcohol and/or drugs contributed to 40 per cent of the drowning deaths. 'Not only swimming, but water activities, paddle boarding, out on a boat, just floating around — all of that stuff when incorporated with any form of alcohol use or substance use can really put you at a higher risk for drowning,' Twaites said. 4:02 Health Matters: Summer water safety tips Twaites said that many drowning deaths are preventable, adding that precautions can help reduce the chances of drowning. Story continues below advertisement One of the key protective measures is the use of life jackets of PFDs (personal flotation devices). 'They really do save lives,' Twaites said. 'Make sure you've got a life jacket or a PFD with you and that you're wearing it, not that it's just on the boat, that you have it somewhere with you. I've seen people out on paddle boards, they've just got a life jacket strapped to the end of the paddle board and that's not going to really do them much good if something happens.' While troubling, it's hoped the report serves as a reminder, during national drowning prevention week, to always make water safety a priority. 'People sometimes are caught up in the moment and they are having fun and don't think about it and these unfortunate tragedies can happen in a matter of seconds,' Twaites said. For more information on water safety, you can go to the B.C. and Yukon branch of the Lifesaving Society website. 2:10 Should swimming lessons be mandatory for all B.C. children?
CBC
14-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
How to use an EpiPen
B.C. Emergency Health Services is seeing an uptick in life-threatening allergic reactions during the summer months. They say the right care and quick thinking can help avoid that. CBC's Tanushi Bhatnagar got a lesson on how to use an EpiPen.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
B.C. sends extra police to Williams Lake in response to council's state of emergency proposal
City council in Williams Lake, B.C., won't be declaring a state of local emergency to respond to street disorder after the provincial government promised to immediately deploy more police to help with growing concerns. Some councillors in the community of about 23,000 people, 320 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, had expressed interest in declaring a state of local emergency to address local crime, which they said ranged from break-ins and public drug use to theft and vandalism, from a small number of repeat offenders. Such a declaration could provide the municipality with "emergency powers" such as suspending bylaws, ordering road closures or restricting public gatherings, according to a staff report. But at a special council meeting on June 3, Mayor Surinderpal Rathor announced the Ministry of Public Safety had requested the Cariboo-Chilcotin crime reduction unit be immediately deployed to Williams Lake "to assess the situation and develop operational plans." Rathor said the unit could arrive in town as soon as Wednesday. Because of the provincial commitment, Rathor, who had previously supported considering a state of local emergency, suggested councillors "hold your horses for at least [a] month or so." "Emergency would not fly right now," he said and recommended council take no further action on the declaration. Staff told council that local front-line emergency service agencies, including the RCMP, B.C. Emergency Health Services and Interior Health did not see a benefit in declaring a state of local emergency. "Local emergency response stakeholders stressed that the challenges facing Williams Lake (such as limitations in mental health support, addiction services and housing) require more than temporary measures," said the staff report. "The group expressed a strong call for broad, co-ordinated systemic reforms." Listen | Kúkpi7 (Chief) of Xatśūll First Nation, Rhonda Phillips, discusses what a state of local emergency means for the community: Coun. Scott Nelson, who originally put forward the motion to consider a state of local emergency, said the public health situation is dire. "There are people on our streets that are mentally ill that should not be on the streets of Williams Lake," he said, and added, "They're going to hurt somebody." He listed a variety of recent incidents, including fires in garbage bins, a break-in at a law firm and a related robbery at a 7-Eleven. WATCH | Williams Lake mayor considers state of local emergency as response to street disorder: Coun. Angie Delainey didn't support the declaration but recommended the city invite partners, including the regional district and local First Nations, to review public safety programs and discuss funding strategies. "I don't think it's the sole responsibility of the municipality to pay these costs that we know have been downloaded to us," she said. CBC has reached out to the Ministry of Public Safety for more information on its response to Williams Lake council's concerns and is waiting to hear back. Coun. Michael Moses said he was concerned council wasn't properly consulting the local First Nations or LGBTQ+ communities or unhoused people. "If we proceed with this against the will of First Nations and other marginalized peoples in our community, then I want you to be wary of this path of discrimination that this council will be choosing and the repercussions of it." Nelson's motion was also criticized by Xatśūll First Nation and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association for its potential to criminalize struggling people. Council voted 6-1 to take no action on the state of emergency. Nelson was opposed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Child dead, 2 women hurt after being hit by bus in West Vancouver near Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal
BREAKING UPDATE: Police have confirmed a four-year-old boy has died and two women were injured after being hit by a bus in West have confirmed one person is dead and another was injured after a bus collision involving pedestrians near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver. B.C. Emergency Health Services told CBC News it received a call at 3:29 p.m. PT about a motor vehicle incident in the 6700 block of Keith Road. "Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to two patients," it said in the statement. "One patient was transported to hospital in critical condition. The other patient was transported to hospital in stable condition." Police say they will release more information as it becomes available. Car access in the area is blocked. Crews are in the area of Keith Road and Bay Street, according to DriveBC. West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager told CBC News he understands there has been a "very tragic accident" involving a Coast Mountain bus. "It's a tragic situation, and I just want to express on behalf of my entire council our profound sadness," Sager said. "Our hearts go out to everybody impacted by this tragic event." B.C. Ferries has confirmed ferry service is not affected, but the company is asking customers to plan with the incident in mind. TransLink says Route No. 257 is currently being detoured but still serving customers near the Horseshoe Bay bus loop. Due to the event, the scheduled event, Taste of the Bay has been cancelled.
