Water Safety

• 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 properly fitted life jackets or personal flotation devices (PFD) in and around the water. 
• Stay sober.  Do not use alcohol, cannabis or drugs when swimming or supervising others in the water. 
• Keep safety equipment and a phone close to the pool. 
• Ottawa Public Health recommends installing four-sided fencing to ensure access to a pool is completely separate from the house, preventing direct access by a child. 
• Consider keeping young children out of hot tubs.  Talk with your doctor before you allow children under the age of five to use a hot tub.  Hot tubs are too hot for young children, may have high bacteria, and the drain in the hot tub can trap children. For more information on hot tub safety, please visit HealthLinkBC. 
• Don’t swim alone. Always swim with others who know how to swim.
• Where lifeguard supervision is available, swim in areas where lifeguards are on duty. One percent of fatal drownings in Ontario occur in lifeguarded settings. 
• Be aware of the limits of your swimming abilities.
• Be aware of the conditions where you swim. Watch for currents and changes in the lake or river bottom. 
• 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 for all water activities. 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. 

Recommended links:

• The Lifesaving Society
• Parachute
• Parenting in Ottawa