Children drownings nearly doubled in Canada last year, according to figures released by the Lifesaving Society. Most concerning was the spike in drownings of children under five, says spokeswoman Barbara Byers, stressing that people aren’t getting the message about water safety.
“People just don’t realize the risk or the power of the water,” said Byers. “Some people don’t realize they need swimming survival skills.”
In Ontario, most toddler drownings were in backyard pools, Byers said, adding toddlers have an almost “magnetic attraction” to the water.
“They’re not fearful of the water, and if there’s a chance to get there, and especially if a young toddler is looking out a window and seeing a glistening pool or a lake, they’re going to want to get there.”
So the society has produced a video, demonstrating the 3 simple “Swim to Survive” skills – roll into deep water, tread water for one minute and then swim 50 metres. Canadians need those skills to survive a fall into deep water, the society says, which I guess we can freely copy around the world.
Via ctv.ca
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