Water Safety & Drowning Prevention

For Alberta children 5 - 14 years of age, there are an average of 31 visits to the emergency department each year as a result of drowning or non-fatal drowning incidents.¹ 

In Alberta, children can enjoy activities in and on water in a number of ways. Children may go swimming at local indoor and outdoor pools and at beaches, or they may enjoy activities on bodies of water such as kayaking, paddle-boating, or canoeing. In winter, many children enjoy activities on ice, such as skating, playing hockey or ringette, cross country skiing or ice fishing. Knowing how to be safe in the water, on the water, and on the ice is important for children to prevent drowning or non-fatal drowning incidents.

Of ALL of the non-fatal drowning hospital admissions in Alberta each year, 45% were children under 10.²

It is important to remember there are things we can do to stay safe in/on the water and on the ice. Key strategies to protect children from drowning include the following:

1. Only swim if there is an adult who is present. Never go swimming alone.

2. Wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD).

a. A lifejacket holds the person wearing it upright. It can turn the person over from face down to face up.
b. A personal floatation device (PFD) will keep a person floating, but not necessarily face up. A PFD is lighter and less bulky than a lifejacket. PFDs keep people warmer in the water because the foam in the vest is evenly distributed around the body.
c. Many people refer to lifejackets and PFDs as the same thing. In this document we will use the term ‘lifejacket’ to refer to all approved safety vests for the water.
d. If children are not strong swimmers, it is extremely important for them to always wear a lifejacket when they are in the water. Lifejackets ensure that their head stays above water. Inflatable swimming toys and other swimming aids like water wings,  flutter boards, and riding toys are not a substitute for lifejackets.
e. Whenever someone is on the water, for example, in a boat, a kayak, or a canoe, it is important to always wear a lifejacket. Make sure to use lifejackets approved by the Canadian Coast Guard.

3. Teach children to always practice good safety behaviours around water.

a. Wherever people swim, whether it is at an indoor or outdoor pool, beach, or lake, they should always look for a lifeguard. Lifeguards make sure that everyone is safe when they are in and around the water. Only swim if there is a lifeguard or an adult to supervise.
b. Follow the rules. Swimming pools and beaches will have signs with rules about how to be safe when in and around the water. Examples of rules include "no diving", "no running on pool deck", and "no swimming". If a child sees a sign they cannot read or do not understand, they must ask an adult or a lifeguard for help.
c. Swimming is good exercise, and exercise is important to keep children healthy and well. However, swimming can also make people tired. It is important to only go swimming when well rested.
d. Children should never eat candy or chew gum when in the water. People can choke when swimming, which could increase the risk of drowning.
e. Have an adult test the body of water before swimming or wading to make sure the water is free from hazards that could cause an injury. Hazards could be sharp rocks, logs, branches, garbage or sand bars below the surface.
f. If entering a pool, lake, or pond, always go in feet first. It can be hard to tell how deep the water may be. If people dive into a shallow body of water head first, they may seriously injure their head and / or neck.
g. Swimming lessons are a good way to learn how to swim and get more comfortable in the water. However, it is important to remember that even if children know how to swim, they should always follow the posted water safety rules, and only swim when in the presence of a lifeguard or an adult.

4. Practice safe behaviours around ice. This does not include sports played in a rink, for example, hockey and ringette. For more information on sports played on ice, please see the Sports Safety Module.

a. When natural bodies of water, like ponds or lakes freeze over, a layer of ice will form. However, the ice that forms may be thin, or may not freeze at a uniform thickness. It is never safe to be on ice on frozen rivers, streams, or storm water ponds due to the moving water underneath. All ice has some risk. Before conducting an activity on the ice, the thickness of the ice should be measured in several locations.³ For more information about the thickness of ice and the appropriate activities, please see the Ice thickness poster from the Lifesaving Society.
b. Children should never go on a frozen pond or lake unless they check with an adult who says that it is safe.
c. If children see a frozen pond or lake and a sign that says "danger, thin ice", they must stay off the ice.
d. If a person is on the ice and the ice cracks, there are a few important things to remember. First, get off the ice immediately.

i. To prevent the ice from cracking further, a person should get on their belly and crawl off the ice. Crawling in a horizontal position will help evenly distribute their weight, and help stop the ice from cracking more.
ii. If the ice cracks and someone falls into the water, they should call for help and try to escape the water. Have someone on the shore call 911 immediately.