Water Safety Essentials: Key Tips to Prevent Drowning This Summer
Because nobody wants to see a person drown—or get that call
With every vigorous chest compression, black lake water gushed out of the young man's mouth and onto the sand. His blue-mottled face and friends' horrified expressions, as they stood by helplessly, will haunt me for the rest of my life.
A few minutes earlier, my husband and I had been playing with our children and their cousins at Sasamat Lake before heading back to White Pines Beach for a picnic and cake. It was our daughter's birthday, and we were enjoying a sunny, fun-filled day of celebration.
Soon after we emerged from the water, while drying off, I heard shouting and noticed the beach had gone strangely quiet. People were standing thigh-deep in the lake, looking out over the water. Some were pointing. A few plunged around, searching in panic.
A person had gone missing.
A young man started yelling while dragging someone towards the beach. We later heard he'd found the unconscious person under an overturned inflatable raft. Friends rushed to help pull the young man's limp, heavy body onto the sand. Someone called EMS, and another started CPR.
At first, it seemed the man might live. His eyes opened briefly, and we heard horrible gurgling noises as chest compressions forced water from his lungs. I remembered wondering why the water he was coughing up was black. Was he a smoker? Was it silt from the lake bed?
Soon, we heard the low, heavy thwup thwup of a helicopter approaching, and park rangers ushered everyone from the beach. We quickly packed our picnic gear and my daughter's unopened birthday gifts and left the lake in shock. With a crowd of sombre beachgoers, we returned to the car park, talking in hushed tones. We drove home in silence, and later, alone in the garden, I let the tears fall.
On the evening news, we heard the young man had been airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital. Paramedics had pronounced him dead en route. I remember thinking this poor man was someone's son. One minute, he was having fun with his friends in the sunshine on the beach, and the next minute, he was dead. He had no idea that this day would be his last.
Another horrible thought tormented me—it could have been one of my kids. While we celebrated our daughter's birthday, another local family was dealing with their child's death day.
Drowning Reports
Children and adults drown at our local beaches every year, but witnessing a drowning on my local beach brought home the true horror of these incidents.
The World Health Organization estimates there are 236,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide. WHO statistics show that drowning is the third leading cause of accidental injury death globally, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. Drowning is the leading cause of death for 1-4 year olds.
Keeping track of statistics doesn't save lives or reduce drowning - but understanding the scale of the problem and identifying risk factors allows lifesaving organizations to create educational programs to reduce the chances of these tragedies occurring.
What does drowning look like?
In movies, we often see the drowning person thrashing wildly in the water, waving their hands, and yelling for help. In reality, these things do not happen. A drowning person cannot shout as their vocal cords are in spasm, and they can't wave their arms due to a lack of oxygen.
Often, all you will see is the person silently bobbing up and down in the water, with their mouth dipping below the surface. Their eyes may appear glassy or closed. The drowning person may stretch their arms out wide or press their hands up and down as if climbing an invisible ladder. They may also be unsuccessfully trying to roll onto their back, desperately trying to keep their mouth above the water.
Drowning people can only struggle for 20-60 seconds before submersion occurs.
Water safety Tips for everyone
Drowning is swift and silent, but it's important to remember that drowning death can be prevented with water safety knowledge and common sense. Understanding the risks and implementing safety measures can help us avoid such tragedies.
Close lids and doors
Keep toilet lids, bathrooms, and laundry room doors closed when you're not using them.
Build fences that fully enclose pools
Install fences around home pools, jacuzzis, spas, and other aquatic locations. A pool fence should fully surround the pool and be at least four feet high, with self-closing and self-latching gates. Remove inflatables and other pool toys that might attract children and store them securely away from the water after use.
Teach kids to swim
Teach children to swim or enroll them in swim lessons. Swimming lessons with a certified instructor can reduce the risk of drowning. However, all children need close and constant supervision when in or around water.
Wear a lifejacket
Always wear a lifejacket when using watercraft such as a boat, kayak or canoe. According to statistics from Canada's Lifesaving Society, 80% of boating-related drowning victims were reportedly not wearing a lifejacket/PFD. Most people drown within 15 metres of safety. By wearing a lifejacket you can buy precious time until someone can rescue you.
Avoid alcohol
Alcohol and water are a dangerous combination. Don't drink alcohol before water activities like swimming or boating. Alcohol impairs balance and coordination and affects your judgment. Avoid drinking alcohol while supervising children.
Supervise closely
When in or near water, it's crucial to stay within arm's reach of children and non-swimmers and closely supervise them. This responsibility is a critical factor in preventing drowning incidents, and it's essential always to be vigilant.
Young children can drown in as little as one inch of water. For example, a baby could crawl and face-plant into a pet bowl. Toddlers have drowned in toilets and buckets of water while their parents washed the car. After use, empty water containers like tubs, buckets, and paddling pools and store them upside down, out of children's reach.
Designate a responsible person to supervise each child closely and constantly when in or near water (including bathtubs). Being proactive and learning about risks is essential when visiting another home or unfamiliar location. This preparation and knowledge can help prevent accidents.
Adults responsible for supervising children near the water must avoid reading, playing games and using the phone because drowning happens quickly and quietly. If supervising non-swimmers at the beach, keep your phone in your bag and only use it in an emergency. Nothing is more important for you to do at the beach than keeping an eye on your loved ones in the water.
When possible, choose swimming sites with certified lifeguards. However, adults should supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present.
A few years ago, a video by the Södra Älvsborg Rescue Service Association of Sweden showed how Swedish First Responders found a unique way of getting this water safety message across to beachgoers. In the viral video, you saw two firefighters stealing cell phones on the beach!
Whenever the two men spotted people staring at their phones, not watching their children, they would walk up to them and snatch the phone from the person's hands. Keep your phone in your bag, and keep a close eye on your loved ones at the beach.
Know the risks of natural waters
Natural water bodies like oceans, lakes, and rivers have hidden dangers, such as currents, waves, rocks, vegetation, and reduced visibility. When planning water-based activities, check the weather forecast, especially the local weather conditions, which change quickly and can endanger you. Keep yourself informed and be prepared for changing conditions.
Use the buddy system
Swimming with a buddy is always wise even if you're a strong swimmer. A buddy can call for help if you get into trouble or perform a rescue. Lifesaving Society statistics inform us that 32% of drowning deaths happen when a person is swimming alone. The buddy system is especially beneficial for those with seizure disorders or other medical conditions that increase their chance of drowning.
Don't hyperventilate or hold your breath for a long time
Don't hyperventilate before swimming underwater, or hold your breath underwater for extended periods. Doing this can cause you to pass out and drown.
Take additional precautions for medical conditions
Know if your medical condition increases your risk of drowning, and take extra precautions. For example, if you or a family member has epilepsy or another seizure disorder, have one-on-one supervision around water. People with seizure disorders might choose to use a shower rather than a bath. Be extra careful around water if you or a loved one has other conditions that can increase drowning risk, like autism or a heart condition.
Consider the effects of medications
If the medicines you take impair your balance, coordination, or judgment, it's best to avoid swimming. These side effects can increase the risk of drowning.
Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills
Maybe you'll be the rescuer on the beach one day. It is essential to know how to respond quickly and effectively in an emergency without putting yourself at risk. The Red Cross recommends taking a first aid and CPR class every three years to prepare.
The video below was created in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It shows how to give first aid to a drowning casualty.
Key points
Anyone can drown.
Drowning is swift and is often silent.
When you're near water with children, nothing is more critical than supervising them.
Take a first aid and CPR class and learn to save a life.
Remember—drowning is preventable.
Sources
World Health Organization: The Global report on drowning:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning
CDC: Drowning prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/index.html
Safe Kids Worldwide: https://www.safekids.org/watersafety
The Lifesaving Society of BC: https://www.lifesaving.bc.ca/
Hi Gill, nice to meet you. I've got a blog both here and on Medium as well.
'Toddlers have drowned in toilets and buckets of water while their parents washed the car.'
Damn! Such seemingly harmless scenarios and yet they can have devastating consequences. It shows how crucial it is for parents to stay vigilant in watching over their young kids.