The Canadian and United States Coast Guards are urging people not to participate in the Port Huron Float Down this Sunday.
The agencies issued a joint statement saying the "un-sanctioned event poses significant dangers to participants and other users of the waterways during the 7.5 mile /12 km course."
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Search and Rescue (SAR) Deputy Superintendent Kathleen Getty told Sarnia News Today it is an inherently dangerous activity, especially for children and those not wearing a properly fitting personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket.
"It's very cold water, fast moving, and if you're in cold water for a length of time and have any underlying medical conditions, those can become problematic after a length of time in cold water. Along with, often, alcohol consumption that is sometimes involved," said Getty.
The Coast Guards said water temperatures during recent float downs averaged between 17 and 19 degrees Celsius and immersion in water below 21 degrees Celsius can lead to hypothermia.
"We don't realize how cold our water is, because we swim close to the beaches. That is more shallow water and tends to be a little warmer. Once you get out into the deeper and faster moving water, such as the river, it's quite chilly," Getty said.
The Coast Guard agencies will be assisted by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Sarnia Police, OPP, CCG Auxiliary Unit, Lambton EMS, local firefighters and first responders in the United States.
"From the Coast Guard perspective, we're responsible for ensuring public safety and we don't encourage people to do this activity, as I mentioned, but we also want to ensure that nobody loses their life either if they do choose to take part in this," she said.
Getty recommends going with a buddy and not separating from them. Participants are also asked to put their name and phone number on their flotation device, have a paddle, carry identification in waterproof bags and refrain from drinking alcohol.
"A loose floatie indicates to responders that there's potentially somebody who maybe is now missing and that can action a search effort that can really utilize resources and cause a great deal of challenges to response personnel," Getty said.
In 2014, a 19-year-old experienced swimmer drowned during the event.
In 2016, about 1,500 American participants were blown to the Canadian shoreline in a storm and required assistance returning to the United States.
Commercial shipping traffic will be halted on the St. Clair River August 20, 2023 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. from the Blue Water Bridge to Stag Island. The float down begins at 1 p.m. north of the Blue Water Bridge.
