The number of drowning accidents and drowning incidents has increased significantly this year, according to the Rescue Service in Medelpad, which states with great concern that people do not use life jackets to the extent they should.

- At the times when we were alerted, nobody was wearing a life jacket, says Mattias Andersson at the Rescue Service in Medelpad who compiled statistics on the incidents that took place in Medelpad.

The difference between life and death

A total of 19 cases, of which three are fatal.

- In all cases, a life jacket had made a difference, that is the difference between life and death, says Mattias Andersson.

Only in June did four people drown in Västernorrland County, one of the drowned persons was equipped with a life jacket, but in at least two of the cases, life jacket was missing.

The death rate could have been higher

In addition, according to the rescue service, the death rate could have been even higher. Last weekend, four young people were rescued by a private person in the middle of the night after the young people's boat sank in the Indals River. The water was flowing and none of the young people had life jackets.

- I think it was absolutely crucial that the person did what he did, otherwise we would have had deaths there, says Mattias Andersson, who wants to highlight the public's efforts.

The efforts of the public are decisive

Mattias Andersson tells us that of the 16 cases where the emergency services received an alarm if the needy, four have taken ashore themselves, in other cases they have been rescued by the rescue service or private persons.

- In many cases, the public's efforts have been absolutely decisive, where we had not arrived, states Mattias Andersson, who cannot sufficiently address the need for a life jacket when out on the water.

- Even on a nice summer day, the water is cold and life jacket is crucial, he says.