Every year, almost 60 children die from drowning, according to Safe Kids Canada. Another 140 kids will have prolonged hospital stays due to near-drowning, which can affect their ability to learn, remember, plan and pay attention.
While drowning can happen anywhere – kids under five can drown in as little as 5 cm of water – almost half of all drownings happen in a pool.
But there are ways to keep children safe. Health Canada recommends:
- Building a fence or gate around your pool to keep children away when unsupervised.
- Keeping that fence or gate locked at all times.
- Making sure an adult is supervising when kids play in or near the pool.
- Dressing non-swimmers and those under the age of three in a life jacket or personal floatation device.
- Signing up children for swim classes and water safety lessons.
- Taking pool-safety, first-aid and lifesaving-skills classes.
- Keeping lifesaving equipment, a first-aid kit and emergency phone numbers at hand.
- Removing toys, garden furniture, tools and any other items children can climb on, from around the pool fence.
For more information about home safety, try:
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