July 20-25, 2025 is National Drowning Prevention Week

ANYONE CAN DROWN, BUT NOBODY SHOULD. Drowning is fast and silent. It takes just seconds, which is the length of time it takes to put on a Personal Flotation Device PFD or lifejacket. For swimmers, having a swimming buddy and learning to swim confidently is vital. Dangers include being tired or impaired, cramping, having a medical emergency, being hit by a watercraft, or getting stuck on an object under the water. Regardless of the water body, whether it’s a private or public pool, or the enticing waters of the Rideau River, children should never be unsupervised or more than an arm’s length away from an adult. Arm floaties are an unreliable safety resource. In case of emergency, spectators on land should be prepared to reach out, throw a rope or flotation device, and call 911. Sadly, drowning is the number one cause of death for children one to four years old, and it is a significant factor for older adults.

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For all pleasure craft, there should be one lifejacket or PFD per person, a buoyant heaving line (a rope that floats, for towing), a bailing device, a sound signaling device, and navigation lights before sunrise or after sunset. This applies to standup paddleboards, sit-on-top kayaks, paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, and rowing shells. Power boats require operator certification, a waterproof flashlight and a fire extinguisher. Safety advice is available on Transport Canada’s website Safe Boating Guide – Safety Tips and Requirements for Pleasure Crafts.

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WHERE IS THE LIFEJACKET? A lifejacket or PFD should always be worn, or within reach so that it doesn’t float away in an emergency and should not be hidden away in the bottom of the boat. Let’s remember that lifejackets don’t work if they are not worn!

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More information is available through the Lifesaving Society website

https://www.lifesavingsociety.com/water-safety/community-events/national-drowning-prevention-week.aspx