Aquatic Safety
WATER SAFETY FACTS
- Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for Canadian children aged one to four.
- For every toddler who dies from drowning, it is estimated there are three to five additional near drownings, which require hospitalization.
- In nearly half of the infant and toddler drownings, the victims were alone.
- A small child can drown in only a few inches of water - enough to cover the mouth and nose.
- Drowning can occur in less time than it takes to read this safety message.
- The most common location for infant drownings is in the bathtub.
- Home swimming pools account for 38% of toddler drownings.
- Since 1991, only 4% of reported toddler drownings were in pools with self-closing and self-latching gates.
- If all home pools were equipped with self-latching gates, nearly all toddler pool drownings and about one-third of all toddler drownings could be eliminated.
Source: National Drowning Report 2001 Edition
KNOW THE DANGERS OF COLD WATER HYPOTHERMIA
As a general rule, if the water feels cold, it is cold! Cold water doesn't have to be as cold as you might think to have an effect on your body. Water is generally considered cold at 21°C (69°F), but if you are in the water for a long time, water as warm as 27°C (80°F) can have adverse effects on you. this means that even in July and August, all water in Canada is cold!
Hypothermia is a life threatening condition in which the body's warming mechanism cannot maintain normal body temperature and the body cools. Normal functions slow down and may eventually stop.
Hypothermia occurs when someone is exposed to cold for prolonged periods of time. Rain, snow, wind and water can all cause a person to become hypothermic.
