Buchanan, Virginia – Memorial Day weekend is upon us, but as families get ready to soak up the sun, experts are sounding a warning: drowning deaths are on the rise.
Robert Duff, general manager of Twin River Outfitters in Buchanan, is gearing up for a busy weekend on the James River, expecting 300 guests this Memorial Day weekend.
“It's a big weekend for us,” Duff said. “We have a lot of trips planned this weekend – tubing trips, day trips and multi-day trips.”
Daniel Grau drove from the Philadelphia area and set off on a three-day, two-night kayaking trip.
“I love going on the river,” Grau says. “It slows down the pace of life and it's a great way to relax.”
But his day started in the classroom, where Twin Rivers staff provided maps of the James River, rapids to watch out for and safety guidelines.
“We also talk about the importance of wearing personal flotation devices, PFDs and life jackets, as many of us would say,” Duff said.
The most important thing is that your life jacket fits properly: it should fit snugly around your torso and chest but not above your chin.
“Safety is a very important part of what we do,” Duff said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 in the United States. For people 15 and older, nearly half of fatal drownings occur in natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and oceans.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported 658 boating-related fatalities in 2021. Of those, 81% were drownings, and 83% of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket.
“Wear your PFD. Wear your PFD. Wear your PFD,” Duff said.
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