Nechako River Float Warnings
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 @ 3:49 AM
Prince George, B.C.- RCMP are advising people not to take part, but know that advice will go unheeded by many, so, they are reminding folks there will be plenty of police presence for the Nechako River float set for this Saturday.
Prince George RCMP advise there will be a number of vessels patrolling the Nechako River from Wilkins Park in Miworth to Cottonwood Island Park in the City.
Each vessel will be equipped with enforcement officers from the RCMP or Conservation Officer Service and swift water rescue trained personnel from the Prince George Fire / Rescue or the Prince George Search & Rescue Society. Although every effort will be made by these agencies to prevent incidents, injuries and death, RCMP advise that those who take part in this event must take responsibility for their actions and understand that organizers have taken no safety precautions to protect participants.
Even though the RCMP does not support this event, they know people will still take parrt, so they are offering some safety tips:
● In previous years, the majority of people taking part in the event did not have life jackets. A properly functioning and properly sized life jacket is essential for anyone on the water;
● No matter how strong of a swimmer you are, the river is stronger and very cold. Being a good swimmer is no excuse for not having a life jacket;
● Floatation devices of higher quality are recommended. Although the river is full of objects that can puncture even the best made inflatable’s, cheap inflatable’s meant for a pool can puncture more easily and put the user(s) at increased risk. An inflatable with multiple air compartments should be used; and
● Parents, please do not allow your children to go on the river alone. Children as young as 12 years old have been found on the river unsupervised.
“Prince George Search and Rescue would like to remind everyone that there are a number or risks associated with an activity like this. The Nechako River, while calm, still has an immense amount of power and has the potential to turn a day of fun on the water into tragedy. Please ensue that anytime you are on the water you are wearing a properly fitted PFD and all children are being supervised. Please be safe on the water” states Dale Bull, spokesperson for the Prince George Search & Rescue Society.
In addition to patrols on the water, there will be a significant police presence monitoring traffic along roadways adjacent to the river in order to prevent Impaired Driving and Aggressive Driving. Last year there were over 50 violations for various offences including Impaired Driving, No Insurance, No License and Liquor Offences.
Foot patrols will also be present at various locations known to be used by participants along the route. A reminder: consuming alcohol in public places is a violation of the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Act. Offenders will be fined and have their alcohol seized.
Comments
If there is a safety concern here it is the parking, maybe the city could spend 100,000 to save a life. People running all over a 4 lane highway, with no safe place to park. It is being used lots and is a benefit to our city, just like our down hill bike trails are, another untapped resource pg is fortunate to have and we don’t know it. So far the river floating seems to be safer than our highways… surprisingly. Lets get these things going and embrace them. We are very fortunate to have them. Funny drinking does not seem to go with the mountain biking.
Drinking doesn’t go with mountain biking because its ti wavy and inconvenient to take, that’s why they smoke pot.
To heavy :)
Be safe and have fun! Summer is short, so enjoy every minute!
Watch out for sticks, they are all over the nechako right now!
So all in all it looks like a fun day for the RCMP and the rafters/floaters.
Forecast is for continuing sunny weather and not too hot …..
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I do not quite understand the advice not to take part. If it was considered dangerous enough authorities responsible for public safey could shut down an event such as that.
They shut down the sandblast for that reason. Most of the water route is within the city limits.
Better shut down driving in PG then too! Pretty dangerous.
I do not believe the city has jurisdiction over the river itself therefore should city money be spent policing on it.
“I do not believe the city has jurisdiction over the river itself”
Great to know. I’ll bring in a barge and build a houseboat then …. ;-)
As far as I know, the City has jurisdiction within the defined city limits, no matter whether it is on land or on water.
That jurisdiction is only limited in those cases where a senior government also has jurisdiction, as in this case situations where the city may make bylaws in contravention of navigable waters laws and laws dealing with salmon, for instance.
I do not understand why the police would try to prevent people from rafting down the river. I can understand them saying they would be checking for alcohol or drugs but other than that, let the people have some fun.
MORON ALERT!!!!
Maybe people will grow up and act responsibly when held accountable for their behavior. Why do we piss and moan about the way the city spends money and then turn a blind eye to the policing and rescue costs when drunks and fools try to challenge hazzardous waters for their entertainment?
Either shut it down or make it plain to everyone that if they get into a pickle and need to be rescued, they will be liable for every last red cent of the recovery costs.
Sorry for the rant, but this one gets me.
They need to wear safety helmest, safety shoes, hi vis vests, and promise not to drink the water before the city can run it through chlorination and fluoridation ….. ;-)
We used to have float competitions back in the “old days” and even wooden duck races which have been banned because wood in the river is a no no ….. unless mommy naturist puts it there her very self …. probably that yellow lead paint from China.
Actually it is a good thing that the river trail is falling away. I do not know what we were all smoking a we thought that it would be cool to have a walkway that close to a fast flowing river without putting up a 1.2 metre guardrail with no opening wider than 10cm. :-(
Freedom is the most precious gift we have. Do gooders are doing no good at all, except ruining our great country and turning it into something evil. It would be nice to see jail time for trying to restrict peoples rights and freedoms.
If you’re talking about freedom from responsibility, do it on your own dime, not the taxpayer’s.
Krusty, while there is something to your argument, society does not generally seen it that way. Otherwise, we would be kicking smokers with lung cancer out of hospitals, denying health care to obese people who continue with the supersized diets, refusing services to speeding motorists involved in pileups, etc, etc. Like the safe injection sites, we have adopted the minimized damage model and continue on.
Well if your going to charge for rescues then it has to be for everything, not just your pet peeve. Car accidents, fires, missing people, down planes, sinking ships, you name it the list goes on. Sitting on ones buttocks do nothing but complaining cost our medical system a fortune in heart disease.
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