Police want residents and visitors to have a safe and enjoyable summer on area lakes and rivers.
Wellington County OPP marine officers have spent time patrolling Belwood Lake, Conestoga Lake and Puslinch Lake with resident safety in mind.
Marine officer Sarah Van Norman wants to remind the public a major concern on local waterways is the lack of safety equipment used by the public.
“The most common violation seen is the lack of personal flotation device (PFD) usage,” said Van Norman. “We want to remind everyone that you should never go on the water without a properly fitted PFD that’s in good condition.”
Emergency situations in small vessels can happen unexpectedly and very quickly, police said. Prolonged exposure to the sun, wind and motion of the water may affect a person’s vision, balance, alertness and reaction times.
“This can make it that much harder to rescue yourself, your friends and your family,” police said.
PFD violations are taken very seriously and Wellington County OPP marine officers have a zero tolerance policy for those they find in contravention of the law with respect to this very simple piece of life-saving equipment.
“Please play safe this summer and remember your PFD,” police say.
