Heading out to the water? Keep these tips in mind to stay safe on Sask. rivers and lakes.

Saskatchewan residents will be seeking relief from this week's hot temperatures on their favourite lakes and rivers. But recent drownings in the province have highlighted the issue of water safety.

Rebecca Mollison is a volunteer with Saskatoon Search and Rescue and the owner of Back 40 Wilderness First Aid.

On Tuesday,CBC News spoke to Mollisonbefore she hit the South Saskatchewan Riveron her paddleboard.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

CBC: Why do you love being on the water anddoing all of these outdoor activities here?

Mollison:In Saskatoon,this river isour recreationallifeline. I think there's so many different opportunities for recreation around it, whether it be biking or paddling, just hiking, picnics, anything like that. So this river gives me multiplesources of recreation every day.

And it sounds like, throughyour work, you want other people to enjoy it too, in a safe way.

Yes,I think there is the ability to enjoy a micro-adventure in our backyard.Safetymeans that we're also self-sufficient and prepared and comfortable so that we can enjoy our time, or even stay out longer, or handlewhen things change, like the weather, or any kind of event that might happen.

So you're saying safety doesn't just begin when you step into the water. Can you talk about all the steps you went through before you got here to the shore?

So this morning, I checked the weather 24 degreesthis afternoon. The wind is only going to be nine kilometres [per hour]from the north, so a nice little gentle breeze headwind. I checked the river flow rate, so we've got about 105 cubic metres per second, which is up a little bit from the years past.

Then I got my gear ready, and packed some snacks and some ice coffee, and here we are.

What gear do you have?

I chose to paddle today, so I actually checked the pressure of my paddleboard, making sure that it's at the 15 psi that it's supposed to be. I have a good paddle. Then I made sure I have all my components, like my leash. Then I'm making a choice on a life-jacket.

I've already put on sunscreen before I came out, but I will take it with me for extra. I actually have a sun shirt so that I can wear long sleeves and a hood I'm very fair skinned and my wide-brim hat. Those are things that will help me stay out longer and protect from that sun exposure.

I put all my electronics my cellphone, my car keysand a cellphone charger in a waterproof case because I do not want to lose those. I make sure that I clip it to my board so that it doesn't go off my board if I do roll.

I brought at least a litre of water, and I probably will drink that today.I have a first aid kit. I always have a compass. I have some firestarter. A headlamp.

It just allows for that personal preparedness and safety.

How does it feel knowing you have all of these?

I feel comfortable. I feel like right now I'm gonna enjoy my day. It's gonna be awesome.I can change my day and stay out longer if I want, or come back again.

I also feel a sense of self-responsibility. Emergency services on the river are not readily available. So anything that happens, even in the city limits of our river, takes a long time to co-ordinate. And when we're outside of those city limits, the RCMP does not have boats on the river ready to go to help people. So with this alone, barring extreme circumstances, I feel like I can at least take care of myself and get myself out of most situations.

To me, that's the best way to go into an adventure.

WATCH |Sask. water safety expert offers tips ahead of hot weather:

Sask. water safety expert offers tips ahead of hot weather

2 months ago

Duration 1:48

Saskatchewan residents will be seeking relief from this week's hot temperatures on their favourite lakes and rivers. But recent drownings in the province have highlighted the issue of water safety.

Any other tips for using different types of watercraft?

Yes. Anytime we're on a flotation device like a paddleboard, a kayak, a canoe, or now an inflatable [we're]required by Transport Canada to have a PFD [life-jacket] on. Whether it's within reach of the person or on them.

PFDs are the number one thing that can prevent drownings. They keep you warmer, they provide another flotation thing to hold on to. It's very much something that we want to see people using if they're out on those flotation devices.

Is this type of activity safe for people who've never been out on the water?

People who aren't familiar with the river, I think, should be encouraged to come and enjoy it, especially on our shorelines. There's many access points to the river right now. The flow rate is low. But what they should know is that that can change at any time.

In our city limits, our bylaws say that you cannot swim in the river. However, you can wade. Many people enjoy that. But the sandbars change, the river flow changes, and the current can be really strong in some sections. So when you're a weak swimmer or maybe a newcomer who doesn't swim at all, it's something that you have to be mindful of.

It's not to say we shouldn't enjoy the river and do some of these things, but we have to do so in a safe manner and within the bylaws of our city.