PDF is not much of an expense - it's a cost of doing business that could save your life
May 17, 2012

Paint the Town Blue Finishes up
May 17, 2012

One Finger Up
May 08, 2012

Letter to the editor - Do you know what's in your prescription drugs ?- A rebuttal
May 08, 2012

What has happened to our town?
May 01, 2012

« Newer / Older »


Letters to the Editor Policy

All newspapers encourage letters to the editor and intend to print the opinions of their readers with as few restrictions as possible. The Echo is no exception.

 

Rules governing letters to the editor in the Echo are:

  1. All letters must be signed, and the name of the writer will be printed with all letters published.
  2. The writer must submit his/her letter in person and satisfactorily identify themselves, or submit a telephone number to be used to verify that the letter was actually written by the person whose name is included on it, delaying the publication if necessary to make the verification.
  3. Letters will not be accepted from people outside the local coverage area unless the letters are written on a topic primarily of local interest.
  4. If a letter attacks another group, the Echo will allow a response in the same edition.
  5. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for length and content.
     
E-mail your letters to the Editor, which conform to the above rules to opinion@theecho.ca

NO ATTACHEMENTS PLEASE

or Mail to
The Echo Box 550
Manitouwadge, ON P0T 2C0

Writers must provide their full name, address and telephone number to verify authenticity.

Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you.

Disclaimer: The opinions and viewpoints expressed by the authors of Letters to the Editor, guest editorials and submissions do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of this newspaper or its staff.

PDF is not much of an expense - it's a cost of doing business that could save your life
2012-05-17
Last year 22 people were lost in drowning deaths in Ontario, 18 of them were not wearing a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) or a life jacket.  
In Northeastern Ontario alone,  6 men drown, none of them wearing a PFD.  
Some complain that the PFD is too uncomfortable. 
The technology of PFD has come a long way, you don't even notice they are on, until you are in the water fighting for your life.   The common response -  I have a life jacket right here in the boat -  just simply doesn't hold water!  When an emergency happens you don't have time to put one on - it's unexpected and almost impossible to get one on once your in the water, that's if you can reach your life jacket at all.   Cold water upsets are even deadlier.  
 
I often hear that the cost of PFD is too expensive. If inflated, recharging costs another $20. 
 
Thousands of dollars are spent on our water sports, but regrettably safety comes at too high a price for some people. 
 
My quick calculation for the cost of fishing may drive the point home - boat and motor $4,000 - $30,000; fishing gear $300 - $1,000; trolling motor $150 - $600;  sunglasses $160 - $300; self-inflating personal floatation device (PFD) $120 - $600.  In the big picture, a PDF is not much of an expense - it's a cost of doing business that could save your life. 
On the flip side, the average cost of a funeral in Ontario $10,000. 
Please, this season wear a PFD - your families will thank you.       
 
Mark E. Andrews 
Inspector Unit Commander 
Traffic and Marine 
North East Region 
North Bay