The BC Coroners Service is urging residents to use extra care this long weekend while swimming and boating in the province.

With the first long weekend of summer upon us, residents and visitors are being asked to make smart choices on lakes and rivers.

A Coroners Service Report shows that in 2015, 70 people drowned accidentally in British Columbia, that’s an increase of about nine per cent from the 64 who drowned the year before. Overall, the rate of drowning has decreased since 2008 according to the report.

"One of the most important things we can stress is the danger of mixing alcohol or drugs with any water-based activity," chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said.

From 2008 through 2014, 535 drowning deaths have occurred in the province, and the use of alcohol and/or drugs was a contributing factor in fully 40 per cent. A similar finding came from a Child Death Review Panel on child and youth drowning in 2013. Of the 24 youth aged 15 to 18 who drowned, 38 per cent had consumed alcohol or drugs beforehand.

Coroner's statistics consistently show a spike in drowning deaths each summer, with the numbers beginning to increase in May and continuing to rise through August. The majority of deaths occur in lakes and rivers, with boating incidents accounting for the largest number of fatalities.

While boating and swimming are the highest-risk water activities, even those walking along waterside trails or cliffs should take care. About one-sixth of those who drown fell into the water from shore.