Wanted: Water Watchers!
Jun
23
Written by:
23/06/2011 1:43 PM
One morning last July, coroners and pathologists who meet daily at the Ontario Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit, found themselves asking yet again, “why a young child has drowned?” It was clear that something had to be done to abate the tragic loss of life due to drowning, which is completely preventable. It was at this moment that the seed was planted to review these deaths and today the Ontario Coroner released results of a review of all drowning deaths in Ontario in 2010 from May to the end of September. Most disturbingly was the realization that the 13 young children who drowned in Ontario in last summer, were all under the age of five. This was truly tragic. At such a young age, children are completely reliant on parents as their first layer of protection against drowning.
Using a system of layers of protection can stop these tragic events from happening in the future. Here’s what you can do to keep your kids safe around water this summer:
- Stay within sight and reach of your child when in, on or around the water. Adults should stand within arm's reach of any child under five years of age or any older child who does not swim well, when they are in water or playing near the water.
- Don't rely on older children. An older sibling or buddy cannot be relied on to safely supervise a younger child. Children have drowned when an older child or sibling was watching them. Learn how to swim or have your child supervised by an experienced adult.
- Learn First Aid and CPR. Make sure there is an experienced swimmer with your child whenever they are in or around the water. If your child happens to slip into the water, an experienced swimmer will need to quickly get the child out of the water and perform CPR, if necessary.
- Install a 1.2-metre (four-foot) high, four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around your home pool. Installing a 1.2 m high, four-sided fence with a self-closing gate helps prevent children from reaching the pool. Not having a fence allows children dangerous access to the pool. Proper fencing could prevent seven out of 10 drowning incidents in private swimming pools for children under five years of age. For more information read our safer pool fencing pamphlet.
- Young children and weak swimmers must wear lifejackets when in, on or around the water and on a boat. Children can fall into the water quickly and silently without adults being aware. A lifejacket can help keep your child safe until someone can rescue her. Make sure the lifejacket fits your child's weight. Buckle it up every time, and use all of the safety straps on the lifejacket. Your child could slip out of a lifejacket that is too big or not buckled up properly.
- If you have a property (house or cottage) that is close to open water, fence off a play area for children that is away from the water. Children can drown in seconds when an adult is not watching them. You can help prevent child drowning by creating a barrier between your property and the open water. A fence should be at least 1.2 metres (four feet) high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- Put your child in swimming lessons. It is best to ensure that children have training but remember lessons do not provide them with special protection or extra care. Supervision is still needed, even if your child was or is in swimming lessons.
- Teach your children about currents and water safety rules. Teach your children about the currents in lakes, rivers and oceans. As your child gets older and their swimming skills improve, teach them age-specific water safety rules . It will help them to better understand why they can't do certain things when they are around or in the water.
As part of the Ontario Coroner’s Drowning Review Team, Safe Kids Canada was pleased to hear that the Coroner of Ontario, like others in various parts of Canada, have taken on the issue of drowning prevention and we are in full agreement with the recommendations made in the report.
In a country that is surrounded by three oceans and as one of the countries with the most freshwater in the world, we need to be leaders in drowning prevention, and we need to make water safety and learning to swim a priority for anyone who lives, works or plays in Canada.