Summer has arrived which means pools, beaches and water parks are now or will soon be open. Swimming is a great way for you and your family to stay active and have fun. There are many things you can do to help keep you and your family safe in and around water.
Did you know that drowning is fast and silent and can happen in as little as a few centimetres of water? Prevention is the key!
Here are some important water safety tips to keep you and your family safe in and around the water this summer:
- Always keep children within arms' reach, in and around the water. Never leave a child alone, whether it is in the bathtub, a swimming pool or any body of water such as rivers or lakes.
- Ensure children and weaker swimmers wear properly fitted lifejackets or personal flotation devices (PFD) in and around the water.
- Don’t swim alone. Always swim with others who know how to swim.
- Stay sober. Do not use alcohol, cannabis or drugs when swimming or supervising others in the water.
- Keep safety equipment and a phone close to the pool.
- Ensure that your backyard pool is not accessible to children by using multiple layers of protection (e.g.: fences, self-closing gates)
- Where lifeguard supervision is available, swim in areas where lifeguards are on duty. One percent of fatal drownings in Ontario occur in lifeguarded settings.
- Be aware of the conditions where you swim. Watch for currents and changes in the lake or river bottom.
- Make sure you and your family members learn to swim. Swimming is a life skill that lasts a lifetime.
For more information on staying safe in and around water and a water safety resource available in nine languages, please visit: OPH Water Safety
