Water Safety

Every drowning death is preventable. Take time to educate yourself and those around you to ensure you stay safe and have fun around the water.

Water safety tips

• Swimming lessons are the best way to learn essential survival skills to recover from falling into deep water.
• Think you’re too old for lessons? There are programs designed for teens and adults as well.
• With so many lakes and rivers, Canadians of all ages are avid boaters. Always wear a life jacket. It could save your life.
• Never swim alone, regardless of age and skill level. Always swim with a buddy. A buddy can throw you a buoyant aid if you get into trouble.
• When possible, wait into unknown waters to prevent injury.
• Backyard pools are a great place to make family memories, but remember, if you are not within arms reach of your child in and around the water, you’ve gone too far.
• Drowning can occur in as little as 10 seconds and is silent.

To learn more about water safety:

• Call: 519-426-5870 or 226-NORFOLK, extension 2233
• Email: water.safetypromoter@norfolkcounty.ca

Boating safety

In Canada, approximately 100 Canadians die each year while boating. The overwhelming majority of victims in these incidents were not wearing lifejackets/PFDs (personal flotation devices). Transport Canada has opened a public consultation for feedback on an amendment to legislation that would require recreational boaters to wear a lifejacket/PFD while boating. This mandatory wear legislation will reduce drownings in Canada and save lives. We need your support.

The Lifesaving Society supports mandatory wear of lifejackets/PFDs for all ages in all recreational vessel types 6 metres or less in length. This includes powerboats, kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and sailboats.

Reduce drownings in Canada by telling Transport Canada that you support mandatory wear. For more info, visit  Let’s talk: Making personal flotation devices/lifejackets mandatory for recreational boaters