Owl News Launches Community Water Safety Initiative
Medicine Hat's only independent, non-profit news outlet steps up to make the water safer for everyone.
Medicine Hat - Owl News is leading an effort to put lifejackets in the hands of anyone who needs them starting at the city's river access points. We also plan to flood the community about water safety with print media, videos, social media posts, etc.
The Owl News Water Safety Initiative (working title - subject to change) will seek to install self-serve lifejacket loaner stations at certain spots along the South Saskatchewan River. The stations will be simple, weatherproof boxes filled with free lifejackets.
Anyone can take one, use it, and return it. No paperwork. No hassle.
Our Water Safety promotion will make sure that Water Safety messages are posted anywhere people access the river.
People who grew up on the coast had water safety drilled into their heads from childhood. We don't have that same culture here - yet. We want to change that.
The Gap We're Filling
The City of Medicine Hat's Parks Bylaw (Bylaw 4859) says lifejackets are required on authorized boating waterbodies but there are no lifejackets at river access points or at most bodies of water. There are no warning signs about dangerous water conditions and no public education campaigns about water safety.
Bylaw 4859 says
5.14 (a) A Person must wear an approved lifejacket or personal flotation device at all times while in, on, or holding on to any vessel being used as a means of personal or recreational (non-commercial) water transportation in the South Saskatchewan River or any creek.
(b) The lifejacket or personal flotation device referred to in subsection 5.14(a) must be worn in a way and in a condition capable of adequately sustaining the Person in the water without effort or motion of any kind.
The Downtown YMCA does loan out lifejackets but you must go in, get fitted and do paperwork. The only other loaner station at a water body that we know about is at the Echo Dale fishing pond.
We have noticed lifejacket stations in numerous cities - no paperwork, no fitting, just grab and go, bring them back later. Water Safety notices are posted in a prominent place near the water. We want the same thing here. The lifejackets stations in these cities only have lifejackets for children aged 6 months to 16 years old, we will be including adult sizes.
Our Plan
We would love to put them at all of the water bodies in the city but we will start with the river - it is the most perilous location. It is where we see people floating, kayaking, jet skiing or paddleboarding.
Too many people are not wearing life jackets of PFDs.
We aim to put the first loaner stations at all three boat launches (Maple Avenue Bridge on the North side, Echo Dale and Strathcona on the South) and the unofficial launch site under the TransCanada Bridge in Medicine Hat.
Our team is currently seeking donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals to fund this project.
The initiative is open to donations of lifejackets, cash, labour or materials for building the stations and creating the water safety messaging. The stations will have a storage box as well as a display kiosk. All sponsors will be recognized at different levels, with names displayed on the stations and on the Owl News website.
Why Start With The River
Rivers are a leading location for drownings in Alberta. The South Saskatchewan River is deceptive, even at low levels it has strong currents, cold water, and hidden hazards that can catch even the strongest swimmers off guard. A PFD can keep your head above water if you bang your head and you are knocked unconscious.
We are looking to change the culture around water safety in Medicine Hat.
What's Next
The team is going to be reaching out to local businesses for donations. They are also looking for help building the stations.
While the long-term goal is to expand to all water bodies in Medicine Hat, including Echo Dale and the city's ponds, the focus right now is on the river, where the need is greatest. There are many access points and it is completely unsupervised.
The goal is to have a Made In Medicine Hat Solution to save lives, we hope to have the first stations in place before the summer rush.
How You Can Help
Local businesses and residents interested in supporting the initiative can donate lifejackets, cash, or materials. All donations are tax-deductible through Owl News's non-profit status.
For more information, contact Owl News at
1-888-600-7029
https://owlnews.ca/contact
Owl News is Medicine Hat's only locally owned, independent, non-profit news outlet.
How to Help
We are looking for partners to make this happen:
Donate lifejackets or PFDs capable of adequately sustaining the Person in the water without effort or motion of any kind as per Bylaw 4859 (new or gently used, Transport Canada approved)
Donate cash to purchase lifejackets, materials and produce water safety communications.
Donate materials or labour to help build a station (wood, hardware, etc.)
