Did you know?
Between 2012 and 2021, Canada experienced 896 recreational boating-related fatalities, averaging nearly 90 deaths annually. This data comes from the “Recreational Boating-Related Fatalities in Canada, 2012–2021 Report.”
Tragedy on the water: Key findings in recreational boating-related fatalities
The vast majority of recreational boating injuries are preventable. Despite this, year after year, we see the exact same critical trend:
- Deaths primarily occurred among adults.
- Nine out of 10 recreational boating-related fatalities occurred among males.
- Lakes were the most frequent type of body of water where deaths occurred.
- Recreational boating-related fatalities most frequently occurred in the warmest months (May through August) and on weekends; the most common month for fatalities was July and the most frequent day was Saturday.
- Poor weather conditions, including rough water and high winds, were frequent causes contributing to recreational boating-related death.
- Over one-third of individuals who were fatally injured in a recreational boating-related incident had consumed alcohol.
- The majority of individuals who died as the result of a recreational boating-related incident were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) at the time of the incident.
Boating incident details: Type of watercraft
- The most frequent type of watercraft involved in recreational boating-related fatalities was a powerboat (52 per cent).
- After powerboats, the next common type of watercraft in recreational boating-related fatalities was a canoe (22 per cent), followed by a kayak (nine per cent).
- The proportion of personal watercraft-related deaths doubled in 2017-2021 (from four per cent to eight per cent, with 35 deaths occurring in the most recent five-year period).
Personal flotation device (PFD) use
- In 78 per cent of recreational boating-related fatalities for which personal flotation device (PFD) information was known, a PFD (such as a lifejacket) was not worn by the person who died at the time of the incident.
- In 29 per cent of the cases where a PFD was not worn, one was present in the watercraft at the time of the incident.
- Low PFD use is a widely established risk factor for recreational boating-related fatalities, and the majority of recreational boating-related deaths in Canada continue to involve individuals who are not wearing a PFD!
Alcohol consumption
- Alcohol consumption was detected in 31 per cent of the individuals who died from a recreational boating-related injury through post-mortem blood analysis.
- In the majority (76 per cent) of the cases where blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was available, the reported level was above the legal limit of 0.08g/100mL.
- In over half of the recreational boating-related fatalities among people in their 30s, elevated BAC levels were found.
Drug consumption
In 24 per cent of recreational boating-related deaths, legal or illegal drugs were found in the bloodstream during post-mortem toxicological analysis.
Key risk factors to remember
Recreational boating-related incidents caused nearly 90 preventable deaths in Canada each year. Risk factors include:
- Male gender
- Poor weather conditions
- Alcohol use, and
- Not wearing a PFD!
Remember, if you never need what you learn about injury prevention, you have lost nothing. But if you never learn what you need, you stand to lose everything . . . your family and your life!
Safety—it starts with you.
