Water Smart
Stay Within Arms Reach
Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Canadian children ages one to four. A small child can disappear in seconds and can drown in only a few centimetres of water-enough to cover the mouth and nose. Typically these drownings occur in backyard pools, toddler pools, the bathtub, or at the beach.
Though important, swimming skills alone aren't always enough to save a life. Many drowning incidents involve other factors that swimming skills alone cannot prepare an individual for. Learning water safety-such as how to prepare for an emergency, and what to do if one should occur-is key to preventing an emergency in or on the water. It's swimming skills combined with safety knowledge and skills that saves lives.
PREVENTION -
➡️ Active supervision:
The absence of adult supervision is a factor in most child drownings. Whether it's a pool, the bathtub, a water park, or the beach, always watch children actively around water-even if they can swim. Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket to keep them at the surface to assist you while supervising.
➡️ Backyard pools:
Backyard pools are especially dangerous for small children. Ensure adequate barriers are in place such as four-sided fencing (recommended at least 1.2 m in height, with gaps no larger than 10 cm) along with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Empty portable toddler pools after each use.
➡️ Bathing children:
When bathing infants or toddlers, an adult should remain with the child at all times- children should never be relied upon to supervise other children in the bath. When a child is in the bathtub, never leave to answer the phone or for any other momentary distraction.
When it’s storming, don’t go swimming!
Lightning is “a sudden electrostatic discharge that occurs during a thunderstorm.” It can happen within a cloud, between two clouds, or between a cloud and the ground. This is why lightning seems to travel in every possible direction. There’s a lot of power behind that giant static shock.
When lightning strikes a body of water, what happens is simple. It spreads along the surface, discharging horizontally. As for how far it can spread, estimates vary. The power of the bolt itself has an impact on the distance the current can travel, so it’s really hard to tell. Not that you should be gambling your safety on those numbers, whether they be 20 feet or 20 yards. Even if you’re outside the range of the lethal electric shock, when a bolt strikes water it creates sound up to 260 decibels as far as a mile away. You could lose your hearing instantly at that volume. It’s that dangerous.
While you’re less likely to be directly struck in a pool since there are things around you to draw the strike (especially in an indoor pool), the charge can still reach you while you’re in the water. Metal elements like the pipes and plumbing can conduct electricity.
Staying safe is a matter of staying out of the water during a storm. Lightning can strike as far as 16 km ahead or behind the rainclouds of a storm. Even if it’s not raining on you, lightning can still strike you. Your best bet is to designate someone as the lookout. Then use the 30-30 rule: when you see the flash of lightning, count to 30. If you hear the thunder at or before 30 seconds, you’re within 10 km of the storm, and you’ll want to get out of the water and seek shelter. Every 5 seconds is another km closer or further away. If you’re only counting to 10 before you hear the thunder, the storm is right on top of you.
Remember, lightning is dangerous. Always take precautions to protect yourself and those that are with you.
Shallow Water Blackout
WHO: Shallow water blackout can affect anyone who is breath-holding, even the physically fit swimmer. It is especially seen in competitive swimmers, Navy SEALs, snorkelers, spear fishermen or anyone who free-dives. Blackouts cut across the spectrum of free diver training affecting all levels. No one is protected from succumbing to an underwater blackout.
WHAT: Shallow Water Blackout results from hypoxia (low oxygen) to the brain. What triggers one to breathe is elevation of carbon dioxide (CO2), not low oxygen (O2). One basically “blacks out” or faints in the water. For some, their lungs will take on water leading to drowning while others simply suffocate or die of other causes brought on by the breath-holding. **Death can be a result of the prolonged breath-holding, even if not from so called “Shallow Water Blackout” or “Hypoxic Blackout". Breath-holding may stimulate genetic triggers leading to various causes of death.
WHERE: Shallow Water Blackout can occur in any body of water (pool, lake, river, ocean or bath tub) when breath-holding underwater, regardless of water depth. Even if lifeguards are on duty, there is still a great risk because it is hard to detect from above the water.
WHEN: Frequently, Shallow Water Blackout occurs WITHOUT ANY WARNING of its onset. In fact, because of the hypoxia and detached mental state one can feel euphoric and empowered to continue breath-holding. Unlike regular drowning where there can be 6-8 minutes before brain damage and death, there are ONLY about 2 ½ minutes before BRAIN DAMAGE then DEATH with SWB because the brain has already been oxygen deprived coupled with warm water as in swimming pools, hastening brain death.
WHY: Shallow Water Blackout occurs because of the LACK OF EDUCATION, AWARENESS, and UNDERSTANDING of the dangers of breath-holding. It also occurs because of the lack of safety training for swimmers, free divers, snorkelers, and spear fishermen. The breath-holders do not understand how to prevent Shallow Water Blackout or how to survive if it happens to them. Unfortunately, training does not inoculate one against SWB. All too often trained free divers succumb.
Lifejacket Safety
Drowning statistics consistently show that 80% of victims in boating-related drownings were not wearing a lifejacket/PFD. Wearing a lifejacket or PFD is the most effective way to reduce boating-related drownings in Canada.
Many boaters feel false security because they are strong swimmers or because there is a lifejacket within reach. But trying to put a lifejacket on before you capsize, or while in the water, is like trying to buckle your seatbelt right before your car crashes - it's impossible. Anxiety, wave-action, weeds, clothing and especially cold water are all working against your ability to swim to safety.
Most people who drown are within 15 metres of safety. The simple act of wearing a lifejacket can save your life by buying you precious time until someone can rescue you.
Ensure all buckles and zippers are fastened properly.
Swim with a buddy!
Whether it is in a pool, lake, or ocean, it is always important to swim with a buddy. Did you know that 32% of drowning deaths happen when swimming alone? Even a great swimmer can get into trouble in the water when swimming alone which is why it is always important to swim with a buddy. A buddy can call for help if you get into trouble or a buddy can perform a rescue.
A drowning can occur in as little as 10-30 seconds and is often silent. Distressed or injured victims will be panicked and call for help, however, true drowning non-swimmers rarely yell for help or splash at the surface.
YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE – take swimming lessons, advanced aquatic courses or a CPR/Standard First Aid training.
