Every year, the Lifesaving Society pulls together statistics on water-related deaths. So we know several things about drowning:
Children who drown have usually gained easy access to the pool or have been left unsupervised near water, sometimes only for minutes;
Older adults who drown in backyard pools have often been swimming alone.
Do you have...
A properly fitted lifejacket or a personal floatation device (PFD) for everyone including adults during water related activities?
Fencing which is at least 4 feet high all around your pool with a self-latching gate?
CPR or first aid training?
An established set of water safety rules?
Tips...
Drowning is a silent killer. An adult must always stay close when young children are in or around water.
Children can drown in as little as 2 inches of water, in less than the time it takes to answer the phone.
Enrol yourself and your children in swimming lessons.
Teach your children to always enter water feet first. Diving or jumping into water can result in injury.
Teach your children the hazards in and around water. (e.g. river currents, undertow, deep water and dams).
Water rings, and inflatable toys are not a substitute for a PFD.
Restrict access to backyard pool. When inside the house, lock all doors that lead to the pool. A toddler can slip through an unlocked door in seconds. When you aren’t using the pool, remove pool ladders and steps from above ground pools. Lock all hot tubs with safety-approved hard-top covers.
Don’t swim if you’ve been drinking alcohol. Alcohol reduces your ability to respond quickly and appropriately.
Always swim with a “buddy.” In case of emergency, someone is available to assist you. Have an emergency portable phone nearby in case you need to use it.
Drain all backyard wading pools after use. Position the empty wading pool such that it can’t fill up with rain water.
Drowning is a silent killer. An adult must always stay close when young children are in or around water. 