Alberta Parks is reminding visitors to wear lifejackets as Albertans head into the Labour Day long weekend, warning that cold water can turn deadly even in late summer. “Wear a lifejacket – it could save your life,” the agency said in a Wednesday social media post. “Looks can be deceiving – many bodies of water are extremely cold, even in summer. Falling into cold water can cause hypothermia quickly.” The advisory was posted Wednesday afternoon, ahead of separate updates later that day from Cochrane RCMP and Calgary Fire Department on drowning incidents. At approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday, Calgary Fire Department responded to 911 calls for a possible drowning in the southeast community of Mahogany. Fire crews and the CFD Aquatic Rescue Team went to the lake house on Masters Park in Mahogany Lake, where bystanders and staff directed them to the dock area. Witnesses said a 20-year-old male struggled on the surface, went below and did not reappear. During the search, Calgary Police identified belongings of another 20-year-old male on the beach, and it was determined two people might have drowned. Surface rescuers used underwater cameras and grids, along with shallow dives. Volunteer members of the Southern Alberta Underwater Search Team were called in to perform a complete SCUBA search. Two 20-year-old males were located and removed from the lake. CFD said they had succumbed to drowning. Alberta Health Services medics assessed both on scene and pronounced them deceased. Calgary Police said they will continue to investigate the circumstances. CFD added it wanted to remind Calgarians of “the importance of water safety, life jackets, and the dangers of both open water and swift water.” Also on Wednesday, Cochrane RCMP released details of a canoe that had capsized the previous afternoon on Upper Kananaskis Lake. Police said the canoe with four occupants overturned around 4 p.m. Aug. 26. Bystanders in the area used boats and paddleboards to rescue a 30-year-old male and a 34-year-old female. Another male and female, both in their 30s, remained missing. The RCMP said emergency crews remained on the scene as a multi-agency search continued, and that an update would be provided as more information became available. Earlier this month, on Aug. 16, Cochrane RCMP were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. to a report of a canoe that had capsized on Barrier Lake in Kananaskis. The canoe had three occupants. A 56-year-old female was located and transported to hospital with hypothermia, a 60-year-old male was found deceased, and a 30-year-old male was missing. On Aug. 18, RCMP said the Underwater Recovery Team had located the body of the missing male. All three occupants were Calgary residents. “RCMP is advising that the body of the missing male has been located by the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team. Again, the RCMP sends condolences to his family and friends,” the release said. Neither the Calgary Fire Department nor the RCMP released information on whether lifejackets were worn in the incidents. Alberta Parks says a properly worn lifejacket is essential for any water activity, and that people should swim with a partner, supervise children closely, and avoid diving headfirst into unknown waters. Officials also stress the dangers of cold-water immersion, citing the “1-10-1 Rule”: one minute to control breathing, 10 minutes of meaningful movement before losing muscle control, and about an hour before hypothermia leads to unconsciousness. The agency lists additional precautions for visitors: Swim safety: Never swim alone, and note that lifeguards are not present in many provincial parks. Actively supervise children and stay within arm’s reach. “The vast majority of drownings that occur in young children are due to lack of supervision or distracted supervision.” Cold water survival: Dress in synthetic layers to reduce heat loss, avoid cotton, stay with your watercraft if possible, and use whistles or flares to signal for help. If stranded, curl into the fetal position to conserve heat, or huddle in groups. River and stream crossings: Even shallow, swift currents can knock a person off their feet. Swimming is not advised in rivers because of sudden drop-offs and underwater hazards. Alberta Parks recommends wearing boots, using a walking stick or pole for stability, and crossing as a group when possible. Boating safety: Follow the Canada Shipping Act, carry a boat safety kit, and clean, drain and dry equipment to prevent aquatic invasive species. Alcohol and cannabis: Avoid alcohol or cannabis before and during water activity. Even if you don’t plan to swim, Alberta Parks says to avoid alcohol or cannabis when near outdoor water areas. Don’t drink or use cannabis if you are supervising children. “Wearing a lifejacket is critical to keep you afloat and breathing,” Alberta Parks added. Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon. Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@discoverairdrie.com. You can also message and follow us on Twitter: @AIR1061FM. DiscoverAirdrie encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the DiscoverAirdrie app.