National Drowning Prevention Week: Watch Me, Not Your Phone

In Alberta and the Northwest Territories, between 2007 and 2016, 100% of drowning deaths among children occurred due to absent or distracted adult supervision. Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death among Canadian children under 10 years of age. Drowning is fast and silent, often occurring in less than 30 seconds. It is critical that parents and caregivers watch their children while they are in the water and not be distracted - watch your child not your phone. Stay within arm’s reach & actively supervise! Adults and caregivers should be within arm’s reach of young children when in or near the water. Unattended toddlers are high risk because they are mobile, curious, and require close and constant supervision by an adult. Children under 5 years old are the least capable of self-rescue of any age group. Most of these children were alone and playing near water when they fell in and drowned. Infants and young children under 5 years are especially at risk in the bathtub. In 2011-2015, 100% of drowning deaths among infants under a year old occurred in a bathtub. 

Backyard Pool Safety - As a result of Covid-19 it is expected more Canadians will stay home and utilize their backyard in the summer and this may present an increased risk of drowning for homes with toddler pools, hot tubs, and backyard pools.

• Empty toddler pools after it rains and anytime an adult can not provide active supervision. 

• Private backyard pools continue to be the primary setting where children 1-4 years of age most often drown. 

• Control and restrict access to water with layers of protection such as gates, fences, alarms, and other barriers. 

• Provide active, direct supervision by designating a responsible adult to be a ‘backyard pool lifeguard’.

Check out our Backyard Pool Safety Checklist the helps ensure your personal pool and space are a safe as possible!

To ensure you have all of the knowledge required to provide optimal caregiver supervision download the Lifesaving Society's Caregiver Supervision Workbook HERE!

Come down to the Dr. Duncan Murray Recreation Centre Pool today to participate in our Family Safety Swim Day activities to be entered in our draw for awesome prizes at the end of the week!!