Viva Vitality: Drowning prevention

By Andrea Klassen on June 18, 2021.

As the mercury rises, we will soon be seeking relief from the summer sun at pools, lakes and rivers.

Swimming and water activities can create a healthy active lifestyle, but they can also be dangerous.

According to Parachute Canada, “drowning is the second leading cause of injury related death for Canadian children.” Every year in Canada approximately 60 children drown and another 140 children are hospitalized due to near-drowning. A near-drowning experience can result in long-term health effects and it can also affect the way a child thinks, learns and plays.

Here are a few tips to help keep your children safe around water:

Active supervision of children when they are around or in water – stay within reach of your child;

Proper pool fencing – fences should be at least four feet tall and self-closing and self-latching, but check your local municipal bylaws for rules where you live, as this may vary;

Proper use of lifejackets – including doing up zippers and buckles;

As an adult, train yourself in first aid and CPR;

Get your children trained in swimming to help increase their confidence and swimming skills;

Wear water-appropriate footwear – wear water shoes that have grips and will prevent children from slipping or from getting cuts and scrapes;

Teach older children the rules of safe play around water – walk, don’t run;

Look first into all water sources; ensure there are no hazards in the water that could harm you or your child.

Children under the age of five are at higher risk of drowning. They tend to be more attracted to water but cannot understand the dangers associated with it. They can walk but do not have swimming skills, their lungs are smaller than adults’ and can fill quickly with water, and they can drown in as little as one inch of water. Water features and splash parks can also be hazardous if children aren’t being watched. Children have drowned by slipping into unattended paddling pools at splash parks.

Older children, aged five to 14, are at risk because they often overestimate their own skills and underestimate the depth of the water or current. Physical strength develops throughout childhood and even a good swimmer can get in trouble if they are swimming in unfamiliar waters.

Ensure you are choosing the correct life jacket for your child:

Make sure the lifejacket is the right size for your child’s weight – children’s life jackets are based on weight limits while adult sizes are based on chest measurement and body weight;

Make sure you choose a life jacket that is comfortable and light – it should fit snug and it should not ride up over your child’s ears;

Ensure the label on the jacket shows it has been approved by Transport Canada, Canada Coast Guard or Fisheries and Oceans Canada;

For a younger child, the life jacket should have a large collar for head support, a strap that buckles between the legs, has a waist strap that can adjust, has a sturdy plastic zipper, is bright in colour and has reflective tape to help see your child in the water.

Follow these safety tips to help keep your child safe this summer when playing in and around water.

Andrea Klassen is a Health Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services

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