Imagine you are at the pool with a friend, who starts having trouble in the water.
Do you, A) jump in to help them, B) throw them a flotation device, or C) call for help?
The answer is actually B and C — never A.
“Never go in and try to rescue — just go get help,” said Rayne Mazanik, aquatic leader at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre. “Throw something close then call for help, but never go into the water.”
The buddy is not there to play lifeguard because a drowning victim can pull would-be rescuers under with them, she said.
July 15 to 21 is National Drowning Prevention Week, and the leisure centre planned a series of daily activities at the Lions Aquatics Centre to spread the Lifesaving Society’s message of water safety.
On Tuesday, the message was always swim with a buddy.
“Never swim by yourself, especially in open water,” said Mazanik.
A Lifesaving Society study reported swimming alone was a critical factor in 28 per cent of drowning deaths.
But swimming with a buddy is not only water smart, it’s more fun — as illustrated by an invitation for swim buddies to take part in an obstacle course challenge in the pool.
Every day this week, the aquatics program will be offering activities that focus on an aspect of water safety, including boating and the importance of wearing a lifejacket when on or near the water.
Lifesaving Society statistics show that not wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device was a factor in 82 per cent of boating deaths “for which PFD information was available.”
More Lifesaving Society statistics:
- Newcomers to Canada are at a higher risk of drowning, especially if they come from countries where swimming lessons and the ability to swim are not part of mainstream culture. A study found that only 41 per cent of new Canadians have taken formal swimming lessons.
- In 2014, there were 428 drowning deaths in Canadian waters — a number that has been declining for the past 25 years. In Ontario, there were 130 drowning deaths in 2014.
- Eight out of 10 victims were male. The average age of drowning victims was 44, with highest numbers in the 20-34, 50-64 and 65-plus age groups.
- Drowning deaths peak in the summer months and on weekends.
- Fifty-two per cent of drowning deaths were related to two recreational activities — swimming and boating. Only one per cent of drowning deaths occurred in lifeguard-supervised waters.
The message of National Drowning Prevention Week? Be safe in and around the water.
