As summer weather settles in and pools reopen, water safety is once again top of mind for local officials.
With Splash Island Waterpark in Portage la Prairie set to open June 2, experts are reminding families to take a few extra precautions, especially when it comes to young children and backyard pools.
Backyard risks that are often overlooked
Lorne Edwards, Media Coordinator with Lifesaving Society Manitoba, says one of the most important things a parent can do is ensure their child learns to swim.
“One of the best levels of protection you can take is actually learning how to swim,” he notes. “Fortunately, in Portage you've got great facilities here with lifeguards and swim instructors and great education program.”
Edwards also warns against using water wings, which many people mistakenly believe are safety devices.
“If you've got water wings and these are the devices that you put on the arms, throw them away because they can actually do more harm than good,” he says.
He adds that a proper lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) is a safer alternative for children who aren’t yet strong swimmers.
Fences, gates, and proper supervision
According to the Lifesaving Society Manitoba, many backyard pools in Manitoba still rely on three-sided fencing that connects to a house, leaving easy access to the pool through a back door.
Edwards says this can have tragic consequences.
“We recommend a four-sided fence that does not attach to a house or another building,” he continues. “The fence should also have a self-closing and self-latching locking gate.”
Proper supervision is also key.
“If you have a child who is 6 years of age and under in the pool,” Edwards remarks, “they should be within arm's reach of an adult so that if they get into trouble, they can reach out to that adult or the adult can easily reach out to them.”
Even small paddling pools can pose a risk. Edwards says they should always be emptied and stored upside down after use.
Drowning can occur in as little as three inches of water, he says, and it only takes ten seconds.
Swimming lessons at Splash Island
Zapphira Major, Recreation Manager with the Portage Regional Recreation Authority (PRRA), oversees operations at Splash Island, where summer swimming lessons are held.
She says the outdoor facility offers everything from parent-and-tot classes to advanced youth levels and lifeguard training.
“That's our whole goal here when it comes to our lesson program,” she says. “All of those rules are there for your safety. I think sometimes people think that it's about cutting into your fun, but it's really not.”
Major explains that summer swimming lessons open for registration June 11 and run in two-week sets, Monday to Friday, throughout the season.
She mentions that children can start as young as four to six months old in parent and tot classes, where the focus is on getting comfortable in the water.
“The goal at that level is really just building a base of comfortability in the water,” she adds.
Drowning report shows ongoing concerns
According to the 2024 Manitoba Drowning Report, 72 per cent of drownings occur between May and September. Fewer than two per cent take place in lifeguard-supervised settings.
The report also shows that children under five make up nine per cent of all drowning victims, with lack of or distracted supervision cited as a contributing factor in 100 per cent of those cases where the details are known.
Edwards says simple precautions, like keeping an eye on the pool and designating someone to supervise, can make all the difference.
“You should always have somebody designated to be watching the pool,” he mentions. “Should anybody be in trouble of any age.”
For more information or to access the 2024 Manitoba Drowning Report, visit lifesaving.mb.ca.
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