RCMP Const. Bradley Holditch is stoked to see the Kids Don't Float program roll out at Cultus Lake.
As a seasonal policing team member and boat operator he's seen too many tragedies at Cultus Lake and surrounding area in recent years.
"The drowning incidents I have attended are some of the worse calls in my service as a member," Holditch told The Chilliwack Progress.
"The incidents are traumatic for the families, the community at large and investigating officers."
There were four water incidents in the Chilliwack area last summer alone: a non-fatal drowning in Cultus Lake that involved a child, a fatal drowning of a man in his 20s in Cultus Lake, a fatal drowning in the Vedder River of a man in his 50s, and a fatal drowning at Lindeman Lake of a man in his 30s.
"Having to deliver next of kin lakeside to a family is a horrible experience," Holditch explained. "I can still hear the families crying to this day."
He hopes that the new station set up at Cultus could play a role in preventing such needless tragedies.
The officer said he first saw the concept in action was while visiting Vancouver Island and immediately knew Kids Don't Float would be great fit for Cultus.
The officer sought out support and partnerships, attracting local government and business leaders who were willing to help get the program off the ground.
"The support I received from local businesses and the Cultus Lake Park Board was amazing. All partners were eager to contribute in making the lake a safer place to visit," says Holditch. "Without their support this wouldn’t have happened."
Kids Don’t Float was founded in 1996 in the coastal town of Homer, Alaska, in response to the high incidence of childhood drowning in the state of Alaska. A local fire chief came up with the idea after attending an injury prevention conference that talked about the “Children Can’t Fly” campaign, a highly successful injury prevention program created in response to deaths from window falls in New York City.
On the opening day of the Kids Don't Float program at Cultus, Const. Holditch and seasonal policing members took to the beach to chat with the public about it.
So far beach goers are very appreciative and the life jackets always get returned.
"I hope people will have an amazing summer and enjoy the water safely by wearing their life jackets. I know I will."
