There is nothing better on a hot summer day than to cool off by taking a swim, a cruise on a boat, or a float down the Red Deer River as many locals do.
However, caution needs to be kept in mind to stay safe around water, any water for that matter. Every year Albertans die from drowning. Here are some tips from Alberta Health Services and Canadian Red Cross on how to stay safe and enjoy the water during the warmer months:
1. Wear a life jacket or PFD
All boats are required to have lifejackets or personal floatation devices (PFD) for every single passenger on board. Wearing a lifejacket or PFD will significantly reduce the risk of drowning should an unexpected or unintentional entry to the water occur.
2. Know your environment
Many drownings are the result of people not being aware of water temperature, currents, and wind conditions or changing weather factors. The presence of cold water, wind, waves, and darkness make recreational activities much more dangerous.
3. Check water depth
Diving headfirst into water should be avoided unless the individual is properly trained and the water has been checked for depth.
4. Supervision is key
Children should always be supervised when swimming, and consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a life jacket.
5. Don’t mix alcohol and boating
Consumption of alcohol while boating is a major factor in many boating-related incidents that result in a drowning.
6. Staggering Statistics
Here are some common factors from the Canadian Red Cross examining drowning fatalities over a period of 10 years:
Children ages one to four and men ages 15 to 44 are at the greatest risk of drowning.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Canadian children ages one to four.
It only takes a few centimetres of water to drown - enough to cover the mouth and nose.
Factors for adults in water-related fatalities included water current and alcohol consumption.
These are just a few of the suggestions and statistics given by Alberta Health Services and the Canadian Red Cross regarding water safety.
