The glorious days of summer have arrived, and on a hot day many visitors and residents are drawn to the clear, cool waters of Jasper’s rivers and lakes. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy water activities safely—planning ahead, honestly assessing your level of experience and using good judgement all play a role. Each year, during National Drowning Prevention week in late July, Canada’s Lifesaving Society reminds Canadians of how they can prevent water safety incidents (www.lifesavingsociety.com).
For Jasper National Park’s Visitor Safety team, August is always a busy month for water rescue and recovery. Read on for some facts and tips on how to prevent running into trouble around water.
Facts on rivers and lakes:
- Your body stops functioning very quickly in water that is less than 20 degrees Celsius. Mountain waters are between four and 13 degrees Celsius.
- Mountain rivers have hazards such as rocks, sweepers, strainers, whirlpools and waterfalls, and they run fast and can sweep adults and children off their feet very quickly.
- Each year in Canada, 150 people die in boating accidents and over 500 people drown.
Potential hazards in mountain rivers and lakes include:
- Slippery and undercut/unstable river and lake banks—stay well back from the water’s edge
- Large amounts of debris in river waters following periods of higher water
- Rocks in creeks and rivers can be very slippery, and the glacier fed water is very cold— backcountry travellers should approach river crossings with caution
What do you need to have? Mandatory legislated equipment requirements for any vessel (even inflatable rafts) include:
- Personal Floatation Device (PFD) for everyone on board—must be inherently buoyant for whitewater, no inflatables
- Whistle—sound signalling device
- Rope—buoyant heaving line (min 15metres)
- Bucket—bailing device (min 750ml) only if the vessel can capsize if swamped
- Jasper Life has some PFDs and other items for boating available to borrow at no cost
Recommended equipment for rivers in Jasper:
- Thermal protection such as wetsuit
- Paddle (minimum of 1)
- Helmet on Class 3 + water
- Experience/training
- Good, durable vessel—pool toys and small inflatable rafts are not a good choice
Other general safety tips around water:
- Keep children away from steep embankments or waterfalls
- Stay behind safety barriers at areas such as Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls and Maligne Canyon
Please note: As per the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Act, consuming alcohol is prohibited in public places, including beaches and on lakes and rivers.
For more information on water conditions in Jasper National Park, visit our information centre or call Parks Canada Public Safety Specialists at 780-852-6155.
