Lifesaving Society says extra attention ‘key’ in preventing drowning deaths

As a reminder during national drowning prevention week, the Lifesaving Society says it’s a time to highlight the importance of being safe while in the water.

Hundreds of people die every year as a result of drowning.

Sunset Beach in St. Catharines was full Friday, with people not only enjoying the sun, but also the water.

Ellen Jenckes says she always keeps a close eye on her son while around water.

“I stay involved, or I join them in the water, but definitely stay off your phone when you’re on the beach,” said Jenckes. “It’s very easy to be distracted and accidents happen — it takes two seconds to turn around and accidents happen.

The Lifesaving Society says that’s the key: caregivers and adults need to keep a close eye on children.

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“In Ontario specifically, we see a lot of drownings happening when adult supervision is absent, or distracted, and we see a lot of drowning is happening where people are swimming alone, or they’re not wearing life jackets while swimming or boating,” said Stephanie Bakalar, Lifesaving Society Ontario Lead Spokesperson.

The Lifesaving Society says for children under the age of five, supervision was absent or distracted in 98 per cent of drowning fatalities, and in 92 per cent of drowning deaths that occurred while boating, victims were not wearing a life jacket.

Niagara police also say the water can be more powerful than it looks and to know your own ability.

“In that region we have a lot of fast moving water,” said Niagara Police Const. Joe Shatkosky. “You get into somewhere like the Welland River, and it looks relatively calm, however there is a good flow to that river and people get out there, and they realize all of a sudden they’ve drifted further than they wanted to, and they don’t have the power to swim back.”

The Lifesaving Society says around 500 people die every year in Canada from drowning, and most of the time they are preventable.

“Drowning is absolutely preventable if the right preparations are taken and the right training is received,” said Bakalar. “So we do encourage everyone to learn to swim, but take that further and take first aid and CPR, and a bronze medallion course where you actually learn how to save yourself and others.”

More information on the Lifesaving Society can be found here.