Every year, approximately 520 Canadians die needlessly in unintentional water-related fatalities.
A high percentage of these preventable water-related fatalities consist of young children, almost always due to lack of or adequate supervision.
Safety is in my blood. My mother and my aunt were lifeguards and swimming instructors and I was a lifeguard and swimming instructor. I am now a car seat technician and hold my First Aid, CPR and AED certification. Safety is important to me.
When Red Cross of Canada approached me and asked if I would help spread the word about Water Safety Week, it was a not brainer!
Water can be fun! But water is also very dangerous!
Watch your kids!
If you are near water, a pool or beach, don’t take your eyes off your kids.
I don’t care how well they can swim.
It only takes a second for something to happen, your kid goes underwater and then doesn’t come back up.
Yes, it’s horrible to say. Yes, it’s scary. But if I got your attention, then…good!
Active supervision
- The absence of adult supervision is a factor in most child drowning’s.
- Whether it’s a pool, the bathtub, a water park, or the beach, always watch children actively around water-even if they can swim.
- Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket to keep them at the surface to assist you while supervising.
Backyard pools
- Backyard pools are especially dangerous for small children. Ensure adequate barriers are in place such as four-sided fencing along with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- Empty portable toddler pools after each use.
Bathing children
- When bathing infants or toddlers, an adult should remain with the child at all times- children should never be relied upon to supervise other children in the bath.
- When a child is in the bathtub, never leave to answer the phone or for any other momentary distraction.
Take swimming lessons!
Another great way to increase safety around water, is to learn how to swim.
Red Cross Canada has put together a great page for Water Safety week with lots of information about swimming lessons and staying safe around water!
Anyone can learn!
When Craig and I got engaged, my parents were very supportive! But the one thing that my mom asked of Craig was that he learn how to swim. The reason that my mom and my aunt became lifeguards and swimming instructors was that my grandfather required his children to learn how to swim. His college roommate had drowned. Water safety was very important to him and therefore, was very important to our family. Craig, at the age of 29, took swimming lessons for the first time.
Join us for a Water Safety Week Twitter Chat!
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2015
Time: 10:30 a.m. until noon
Host: @RedCrossTalk
Topic: Q&A/chat on water safety with a focus on children
Hashtag: #WaterSafetyChat
*Statistics are based on ongoing surveillance of data surrounding unintentional water-related fatalities. The data has been compiled by the Canadian Red Cross from coroner’s offices for the period of 1991-2012, the most current in the database.
