Anyone heading out on the water this long weekend is being urged to leave their “floaties” on the shore.

The Ontario chapter of the Lifesaving Society says “floaties, or inflatables” pose a risk when taken out by swimmers in waterways.

Spokeperson Stephanie Bakalar says inflatables may be popular but are meant for pools or to be secured firmly to a dock.

She says“they’ve really done a good job marketing these floaties and creating them to look fun, and that’s fine for a pool environment,but what people don’t realize is that when you take those into an open water environment you’re going to get pulled by the wind very quickly.”

The majority of drownings in Ontario happen in open water settings and Bakalar says people often overestimate their ability to swim to safety.