From July 20 to 26 is National Drowning Prevention Week, and Lifesaving Society Saskatchewan is sharing tips to stay safe while swimming and boating this summer.
On average, there are about 22 fatal drownings in Saskatchewan each year and 450 across Canada.
Lifesaving Society Saskatchewan CEO Shelby Rushton said that doesn’t include the numerous close calls.
“(There are) not as many fatal drownings, so when someone actually dies from the drowning, but we do have a lot of near misses. We call that a non-fatal drowning,” Rushton said.
Rushton recommended that if you are near a body of water with children, keep a close eye on them. Kids love to play in water, but they don’t always know the dangers and can easily fall while in the water.
If you are in open water, Rushton said you should wear a personal flotation device (PFD). Even if the water seems calm and harmless, wind and waves can come up quickly and unexpectedly.
She said don’t drink alcohol when swimming or boating, and reminded residents that the same applies to boat passengers.
“A lot of people still think that it’s OK to be a passenger on a boat, but it’s illegal to be on a boat at all with open alcohol,” Rushton said.
She also said to be careful of rocks, tree limbs and other tripping hazards when you are in the water, and never swim alone so someone can help if you are in distress.
Rushton said the safest place to swim is a supervised area.
“That is where there are trained lifeguards, so any of the municipal pools must have by law trained lifeguards on the deck when it’s open to the public. Whereas, where we see the drownings occur is in open water, so lakes, rivers and streams,” she said.
Public beaches in Saskatchewan are not legally obligated to be supervised by lifeguards.
If you see someone in distress, Rushton said do not go into the water. Instead, call 911 and throw something buoyant to the person if you can. You should only enter the water if you are trained in water rescue, either through the Bronze Medallion course or as a trained lifeguard.
You can find more information about National Drowning Prevention Week and water safety tips on the Lifesaving Society Saskatchewan website.