The early start to the boating season is coming with some warnings from police.
Officers are watching boaters on Lake Simcoe closely to make sure they have all of the safety gear they need. This is everything from life-jackets to a whistle to a fire extinguisher.
Water temperatures are about 6 C, which can be a bit deceiving if you’re not careful.
“You got one minute to compose yourself, 10 minutes you start to lose your dexterity and after that, one more minute, hypothermia sets in,” says York Regional Police Const. Craig McDowell.
Another concern right now is floating debris.
“This time of year we get a lot of stuff that was left over from winter that was on the ice and the stuff that was moved around when the ice went out.”
Police are reminding boaters it's imperative to make sure you have a fully charged cell phone and to always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be returning.
