BaySar pfd event

BAYSAR Search and Rescue will be out in the area again this year during the long weekend in August doing a PFD survey.

They will be flying over area lakes and checking to see if people are wearing their personal flotation devices.

Last year the percentages varied from 92% of people wearing a PFD if they were in a personal water craft to 9% if they were in a open power boat.

Last year 439 people were spotted in various vessels and only 80 had their device on.

That works out to 18%.

In 2013, it was 2 %.

Stan French of BAYSAR says they encourage people to wear their PFD and they could win a prize if they are seen doing so. He says one lucky person with a PFD on will get a free ride in their float plane.

He says there’s less of an excuse for. wearing a PFD with the new styles out there now. French believes its just getting people in the habit of putting their PFD on. Cst. Marvin Miller of the Mattawa OPP says having a PFD on can literally save your life