It’s a first at a beach that has been one of the most popular in Cape Breton for decades. This summer, free life jackets are being offered at Dominion Beach – and three others in Nova Scotia – as part of a new pilot program funded by the Nova Scotia government. “Oh man, it’s really neat,” said one man spending the day at the beach with his small children, who took advantage of the free life jackets. “We don’t have this kind of thing in Toronto. We don’t have to worry about them.” One of the lifeguards at Dominion Beach on Saturday said having the life jackets available on loan makes her job just a bit easier. “There’s a lot of people who may need them,” said Bailey McKay. “Some people may not have the money to get them. There are some weaker swimmers who may need that support, and it just gives them some comfort in the water that may be helpful.” The director of the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service, Paul D’Eon, said some days they are seeing as many as 35 to 40 people using the loaner life jackets at any given beach. He added their availability should only improve safety. “Small children or people with limited mobility, they can fall face down and can’t right themselves so we would have to intervene with that so that may be helpful to us,” D’Eon said. “Or if they accidentally step into deep water off a sandbar, it’s going to be helpful to them and certainly could prevent a tragedy.” The free life jackets are also available this summer at Melmerby Beach in Pictou County, Rainbow Haven Beach in the Halifax area, and Queensland Beach on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. D’Eon added there is a chance the program might be expanded to other Nova Scotia beaches in future years. While the addition of the life jackets is a good step toward increased safety, the lifeguards CTV News spoke with said having a life jacket on in the water doesn’t mean people should let their guards down. “Life jackets don’t prevent good parental supervision,” D’Eon said. “While your kid is at the beach, you should stay within arm’s reach and those red and yellow flags you see at the beach – that’s where the lifeguards are, they want you to swim between the flags. So, common sense out there.” D’Eon added if the free life jackets remain well-used, his organization will go back to the province at the end of the summer and request more funding for next year. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
