Photo – Lehtikuva.
More than a hundred people have drowned so far this year, confirmed the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation.
Based on preliminary data, 119 cases of people being drowned had been recorded by the end of August. Of them, 19 people drowned in August alone.
The number of incidents where men had drowned is much higher than women. By the end of August, 100 men and 19 women were reported to have drowned.
The figure compared to the corresponding time last year is much higher. Last year at this time, 89 such cases had been recorded.
The vast majority to have succumbed to drowning are people over the age of 50 years.
The organisation has warned swimmers and people traversing waters in boats of the dangers of hypothermia.
Water cools the body much faster than the air. Old age, poor general physical condition, alcohol and illness are all factors that can expose one to hypothermia.
