Summer Water Safety
Did you know that drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Canadian children ages one to four? According to the Canadian Red Cross, a report examining water-related fatalities over the last 10 years showed that many were avoidable. Which is why with open water swimming, backyard swimming and hot tub party season upon us, the team from Hot Tub Covers would like to share some essential summer water safety reminders. Small children can drown in only a few centimetres of water (enough to cover the mouth and nose). Be especially vigilant of young children around toddler pools, backyard pools, the bathtub and at the beach. A few seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Swimming skills need to be taught with water safety skills. While knowing how to swim is certainly a life skill, infants, preschoolers and children can benefit from learning how to act appropriately around water. It's amazing how a simple "walk on deck" can help avoid slip/fall and drowning fatalities. Obey posted rules. While it sounds simple enough, many water-related fatalities could have been prevented by following the rules. If you're heading to a water park or public swimming pool, teach children to always read the posted notices. It's a great habit to develop early on. Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket to keep them at the surface to assist you while supervising. Always empty blow up or portable toddler pools after every use. Follow municipal guidelines to ensure any self-inflating pool or hot tub meet the safety standards. Ensure adequate barriers are in place; this can include four-sided fencing along with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Avoid diving in home pools and always enter the water feet-first! Love open water swimming? Be cautious of currents and know what to do when caught in a current. Teach young open water swimmers about abrupt drop offs. Educate yourself about electric shock drowning and know how prevent it. [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="medium" ids="2963,2964"]
