Locate a Hospital or Clinic 24 hour a day, 7 day a week nurse telephone advice Find doctor accepting new patients
e-Health Info - Water wise: Take steps to stay safe this summer

E-HEALTH Info

Proactive

Water wise: Take steps to stay safe this summer

June 2, 2008

CAREY MILLAR
Communications

Now that summer is officially around the corner, many thoughts are turning towards weekends at the cabin or other outdoor pastimes.

Often, summer plans include water activities like swimming, boating or rafting. Not only are these activities fun, they’re also good for your physical health - providing such benefits as reduced stress, decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, of certain cancers, and even diabetes.

However, there are some things to remember before you head out on the water in order to ensure you have fun and stay safe.

“Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, drowning or other water-related incidents are much more common during the warmer months of the year,” says Madelyne Porter, a child and youth injury prevention co-ordinator with the Calgary Health Region. “Drowning can happen silently and quickly, in as little as 5 cm of water depth.”

Statistics show that in 2005, there were 14 drowning deaths in the Calgary Health Region.

“Drowning is always preventable,” adds Porter. “It really amounts to taking some simple precautions and taking smart risks.”

Simple steps, such as dumping the water out of wading pools every night and refilling them in the morning and ensuring backyard pools and hot tubs have covers that are securely fastened, are important. Rafters and boaters should always wear lifejackets and be prepared for changing conditions (weather or water related).

Rafters and boaters are required by law to have proper safety equipment on board including paddles, a bailer, a towing line, a whistle or sound device and properly fitted lifejackets.

And, it’s not enough to carry the lifejackets on board. A Calgary bylaw states boaters must wear them at all times while boating within city limits.

“It should be a no-brainer,” says Porter. “A lifejacket can’t save your life if you aren’t wearing it. So, make sure you always wear one.”

Alcohol is another factor in many drownings. People who are drinking rarely plan to be in the water and in an emergency situation. What may seem like a harmless can of beer can actually dull the senses and decrease a person’s ability to make safe decisions, increasing the risk of drowning.

So, the bottom line is, if your summer plans include water activities, make sure you take appropriate safety precautions to ensure a fun and safe summer.

Smart risk water safety tips:

Buckle up your lifejacket: During the last 10 years in Alberta, more than three-quarters of people who drowned in boating incidents were not wearing lifejackets. Water wings and recreational floatation devices for children are not substitutes for approved lifejackets.

Stay sober: Water and alcohol don’t mix. An estimated 40 per cent of all drownings among Canadians age 15 and over involve alcohol. Never boat while impaired.

Get trained: Enroll your family in swimming lessons. Learn lifesaving skills and swim in supervised areas.

Look first: Be aware of all water hazards in and around your home, including bathtubs, sinks, toilets, wading pools and ponds. Young children are at high risk for drowning because they are attracted to water but don’t understand its dangers. Never leave your child unsupervised in, on, or around water.

 

  Privacy/Disclaimer | Regional Policies | Optimized Viewing | Contact