Summer is the time for fun on the water. Unfortunately, it’s also the time for drownings and other on-the-water “accidents.”
The vast majority (almost 90%) of drowning incidents happened because the victims weren’t wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD).
And that’s why, in Summer 2017, we partnered with the Canadian Red Cross and Vancouver Biennale once again to dress up the bronze figures of Vancouver’s beloved giant-sized sculpture “A-maze-ing Laughter” in oversized orange lifejackets. Our goal: to encourage people to think about staying safe before they make a splash.
Located at the entrance to English Bay at the corner of Denman and Davie Streets, our installation serves as a reminder that the vast majority of “accidents” on the water aren’t accidents at all. They’re the direct result of choices we make—or, more accurately, choices we don’t make. No matter how much fun we’re having on the water, a lifejacket or PFD isn’t optional equipment. It is, quite literally, a lifesaver.
Throughout our history, we’ve worked hard to challenge the belief that safety and fun are mutually exclusive—that wearing safety gear isn’t “cool,” and just gets in the way of a good time. We know that there’s a direct link between this attitude and a good many of the preventable injuries that happen in BC, whether they happen on the water, on the ski hill, at the skate park, on the bike trail, or elsewhere.
It’s kind of funny to see a bunch of larger-than-life, laughing statues dressed up in lifejackets. It catches your eye. It sticks in your mind. It’s hard to ignore, and even harder to forget. Hopefully, that’s exactly the same thing that happens the next time you think about wearing a lifejacket.
