Island Health reminds communities that drowning is often silent and can occur in less than a minute. Health officials say, unlike what's often shown in movies, a person in trouble may not splash, wave, or call for help.

Instead, they may be quiet, gasping for air, with their body upright in the water and only their mouth or head briefly visible.

There were 17 fatal drownings in the Island Health region last year, according to the BC Coroners Service.

Island Health says for every fatal drowning, there are at least 3 non-fatal incidents, which can result in serious brain or organ damage due to a lack of oxygen.

“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.”

Officials are also reminding people to always swim with a buddy, keep children within arm's reach near the water, choose lifeguard-supervised beaches and pools when possible, and avoid mixing alcohol or drugs with water activities.

To learn more, visit Island Health.