DIVERSEcity partners with the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon and City of Delta to spread awareness on swim safety
New Canadians are four times more likely to be unable to swim than those who were born in Canada. But almost 80 per cent of newcomers are on or around the water in the summer, according to the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon.
Drowning is preventable, but, sadly, almost 500 drownings occur each year in Canada. It is the most common cause of accidental deaths among children one to four years old.
For National Drowning Prevention Week (July 21–27, 2024), DIVERSEcity is proud to partner with the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon and City of Delta to host a free Swim to Survive water safety workshop for newcomers. Learning water survival skills can help minimize risk by teaching swimmers how to be safe in water.
Do you know how to survive if you unexpectedly fall into deep water? This workshop will teach you the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water, which are:
- Roll into deep water
- Tread water for one minute
- Swim 50 metres
Held at Sungod Recreation Centre in Delta on July 24, 2024, 7–8:30 pm, City of Delta Aquatic staff will offer three stations to learn and practise these skills.
Language interpretation is available in Punjabi, Arabic and Mandarin. Register today to secure your spot: https://forms.office.com/r/GqAmahQNya
Additional sessions in Surrey will be announced soon.
Water safety tips for newcomers
Here are a few water safety tips, adapted from the Lifesaving Society of BC & Yukon:
- Closely supervise young children near water. If you’re not within arms’ reach of them, you’ve gone too far.
- If children can’t swim, have them wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) unless you’re in the water holding them.
- Always swim with a buddy; don’t swim alone.
- Choose to swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
- Never dive into shallow water. Go feet first.
- Use a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) when on boats, including kayaks and paddleboards.
- Always watch children closely, including when they’re playing with inflatable toys.
They can overturn and put the child underwater. - Have a pool? Restrict access to it with a fence. Drain all backyard wading pools after use. A child can drown in just a few centimeters of water.
- Don’t swim if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
- At lakes, rivers and ocean beaches, take time and observe the conditions closely before you step out onto the shoreline. Keep an eye on any incoming waves and stay alert. Be alert to the effects of cold water.
- Stay in shallow water, unless you are trained to swim in deeper water.
- In case of emergency, have a phone nearby to call 9-1-1.
- Learn to swim and learn lifesaving skills.