Water Safety

Water Safety Messages:

Always keep children within arms' reach, in and around the water. Never leave a child alone, whether it is in the bathtub, a swimming pool or any body of water such as rivers or lakes.
Make sure children and weaker swimmers wear lifejackets or personal flotation devices (PFD) in and around the water.
Supervise and swim with children only when free of alcohol, drugs and distractions.
Keep safety equipment and a phone close to the pool.
Ottawa Public Health recommends installing four-sided fencing to ensure access to pool is completely separate from the house, preventing direct access from a child.
Children under the age of five should never use a hot tub -- not even with an adult. Hot tubs are too hot for young children, may have high bacteria, and the drain in the hot tub can trap children.
Make sure you and your family members learn to swim.
Enjoy safe boating. Make sure that you and your family members always wear a properly sized lifejacket/PFD when in a boat. When not in use, lifejackets/PFDs need to be kept in a dry, ventilated area and out of direct sunlight.
Know what to do in an emergency, including CPR and calling 9-1-1.