Most people picture splashing and shouting, but drowning is almost always silent and happens quickly, a reality Island Health is urging people to watch for as summer starts.
Drowning can happen in less than 60 seconds, and the signs are far more subtle than most people expect.
“Drowning rarely looks dramatic like it does on TV and in the movies. It can be quiet, fast, and easy to miss,” said Lenea Grace, Executive Director, Lifesaving Society BC and Yukon. “People often don’t realize that someone in trouble may not be able to wave or shout for help. Knowing the signs to watch for can save a life.”
The person in distress is often silent, sometimes only gasping, coughing, or breathing irregularly, with their arms still and angled down, rather than flailing. Their body is typically vertical, with the mouth just above the water and head low, and sometimes only intermittently visible as they struggle to stay afloat.
There were 17 fatal drownings recorded in the Island Health region in 2025, according to the BC Coroners Service. Nine fatalities occurred in Central Island, with seven of those on the Cowichan River.
For every fatal drowning there are at least three non-fatal drownings. A non-fatal drowning may result in brain or other organ damage, ranging from mild to severe effects, including hypoxic brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Most non-fatal drownings occur in outdoor natural bodies of water.
“Almost every drowning is preventable,” said Island Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Melissa Wan. “There is no single fix, but layers of protection work together: knowing how to swim, wearing a lifejacket, swimming with others, and learning the skills to help someone in trouble. As a community, the more of those layers we put in place, the more lives we protect this summer.”
This summer, Island Health is expanding access to lifesaving education by partnering with the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon to deliver Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross training for youth in rural and remote communities. Youth aged 13 to 24 living in Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield and Port Alberni are encouraged to sign up for free by emailing the Society at dirkp@lifesaving.bc.ca.
Drowning prevention tips
- Always swim or do water activities with a buddy.
- Keep young children within arm’s reach and within view at all times (never turn away, not even for a brief moment).
- Swim at lifeguard supervised beaches and pools when feasible – so others can watch you.
- Supervision, supervision, supervision: Designate a responsible adult to monitor the backyard pool. No phones, no alcohol!
- Watch out for others using alcohol or other substances. Encourage family members and friends not to mix substances with water activities and model safe behaviours by not using substances during any water activity.
- Watch out for others not using a lifejacket or PFD when appropriate. If you see a friend/family member not wearing one, encourage them to put one on. Alternatively, wearing one signals to others that it's something they should do. Studies have shown how children are more likely to wear PFDs/lifejackets when an adult wears one.