Life Saving Victoria, Victoria Police and the Bureau of Meteorology are urging Victorians to play it safe by the water.
Temperatures soared leading up to and into the new year, and water safety authorities are on high alert with an influx of travellers expected to be in and around water.
This has led authorities to warn Victorians against letting the excitement of festive season celebrations get in the way of safe decision making in, on and around the water.
In particular, authorities are urging people to avoid alcohol and drugs around water, after these substances were found to be a known factor in 31 per cent of Victorian drowning deaths during the past decade.
To help curb this, water police are testing for drugs as well as alcohol at boat ramps in key locations this summer.
If you plan on boating or fishing, make sure you wear a correctly fitted and well-maintained lifejacket, as 79 per cent of boating-related drowning incidents during the past decade involved either no or improper lifejacket use.
A lifejacket can keep you afloat if needed until help arrives.
Victoria Police’s Water Police Squad will also be out actively patrolling coastal and inland waterways to ensure boaters and jet ski riders are doing the right thing.
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