Swimming and Water Safety (Page 5)

Becoming a mom has led me to reflect on my own childhood, my relationship with water and my experiences learning to swim. Now I’m seeing my own 3-year-old son fearlessly jumping in the water, learning to swim and loving the beach as much as I did.

With summer's hot weather driving Canadians in droves to water activities, take a moment to ensure you have the proper knowledge for safe water play with this quiz.

Even when kids wear flotation devices and water wings, the water can quickly become a source of stress for parents. That’s why the Red Cross strongly recommends signing kids up for swimming lessons when they are just months old.

After the bitterly cold weeks and multiple storms we have had this year, many of you will be heading for sunnier climes in the coming weeks. Before you stretch out on a lounge chair to catch some rays, here are a few tips for a safer trip.

Knowledge, equipment, and skill. Those are the three things that can help you stay safe on the ice and survive if you fall through it. That’s according to Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, who operates the Laboratory for Exercise and Environmental Medicine at the University of Manitoba and was the keynote speaker at the 8^th Annual Red Cross Alberta Water Safety Conference in Calgary.

This week, at the World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Vancouver, three outstanding water safety volunteers were inducted as members of the Order of Red Cross - our society's highest honour - in recognition for their years of dedication.
In appreciation of their ongoing commitment to the community, we are pleased to welcome Anne Porteous, Wayne Little and Janice Makepeace to the Order of the Red Cross!

​Electric shock drowning is relatively new given the rise of power-driven docks in recent decades but its consequences can be severe; it’s important to consider safety when around water and electricity. Electric shock could happen when electric current leaks into the surrounding body of water, causing the water to become energized.

When it’s a hot, sunny day, it might be tempting to jump headfirst into a pool or lake. But before you take the plunge, here are a few safety tips to prevent you from sustaining a head injury and regretting that dive for the rest of your life.