More signage would help

Social media was abuzz Wednesday over Joe Fries’ exclusive story about the near-miss which occurred last week at the Channel Parkway when two young kids nearly drowned.

Cheryl Dunfield, a grandmother visiting with her adult daughters and grandkids from Parksville, shared her experience with The Herald. She admits to seeing a small sign which had a list of rules which included instructions not to tie boats or floatation devices together. As she had floated the Channel many other times over the years, she didn’t think much about it and ignored the warning.

This is the same waterway where a 20-year-old man died in June after getting hung up on the bridge at Green Mountain Road.

Dunfield believes more signage and education is needed. We agree. The reaction to Dunfield’s story on social media was unsympathetic because she admitted to reading the rules then ignoring them.

Almost all of us will attend a swimming facility for the first time and see a list of rules and not bother to read them. Be honest, how often do you take a shower before entering the swimming pool? Nobody, it seems, ever reads a waiver when we’re handed one and instead instantly scribble our names down.

For every accident there are always a couple of near misses. In the case of Dunfield’s family, we’re happy the day didn’t end in a tragedy.

The locals might be educated enough to know that tying boats together is a risk but tourists don’t.

The price of a few extra signs with big bold letters “DANGER: DO NOT TIE BOATS TOGETHER” is tiny – especially compared to cost of losing a life.

—James Miller

Many still unaware not to tie boats together