Swimming and Water Safety

It’s the time of year when many schools have a spring or March break and often families will take advantage of the time off to travel or get active. Whether it’s preparing to take a tropical trip or getting ready to entertain out-of-school youth, here are some tips to get ready.

With recent extreme cold weather, it is very natural to feel a sense of relief when you see temperatures rising. Great for our human bodies not meant to be in -20 degree temperature for more than 10 minutes without risking frostbite, but not so great for other risks such as flooding and ice strength.

Fishermen can easily be spotted out on the water, and closer to the shore, people digging in sand are shovelling away at the riverbed. Sekou Menta and his father are among them. Nearby, the women are doing laundry. Beside them, children are playing in the water.  Suddenly, their giggles turn to screams. The current has just swept two of them away.

As many of us Canadians are experiencing, winter months can be cold, icy and snowy – and all we want to do is bundle up and stay warm.  A natural tendency, for sure, but did you know wintertime is a great time to learn how to swim? Here's why.

No matter how careful, emergencies on the ice can still happen. Here is what to do if you fall through the ice, or you need to help someone fall through the ice. 

Digital volunteer Farah Ng's and her family were quick to embrace Canada's winter weather when relatives arrived from Hong Kong - in this blog she shares some ways to enjoy fun on the ice while staying safe.

At the Red Cross, we have been teaching swimming and water safety in Canada since 1946. We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe when they are on, in, or near the water. We also provide the training and skills for a fun and rewarding job – lifeguarding!

​In a country surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Cuban Red Cross understands the importance of being prepared for water emergencies, especially as a first responder. Through the CERA (Capacity Building for Emergency Response) Initiative, a Cuban Red Cross expert in water rescue has led trainings for two sister island nations: Haiti and the Dominican Republic.