While a good chunk of our province seems to burning and generally lacking enough water to quell the flames, the rest if flush with H2O and British Columbian’s enjoying themselves in it. I’m talking about our numerous lakes, streams, pools, and that big body of water called the Pacific.

When you’re enjoying yourself in the water during these last days of summer it’s important to remember that water isn’t our natural environment (despite how well some of us can swim), and that we have to act differently when we’re in it.

This summer The Community Against Preventable Injuries, BC Hydro, and The Canadian Red Cross wanted to spread the word about drowning in our province. The message we wanted to get across to everyone with our attention grabbing, “You’re Probably Not Expecting To Drown Today” campaign was to get people to think before they act.

The aim is to reduce serious injuries in the water by encouraging small behavioural changes in British Columbians. The hope is that this will lead people to think the consequences before they possibly put themselves in a dangerous situation.

This approach is not unlike BC Hydro encouraging people to reduce their electricity consumption. The hope is that slowly people think more about energy and try not to waste it.

So here are a few tips that can keep you and others around you safe in the water for the rest of the summer, and hopefully the rest of your life. So take a 30 seconds and give them a read, because changes the attitudes of others might mean changing your own first.