Swimming and Water Safety

Alberta Coordinator of the Indigenous Swimming and Water Safety Program for the Canadian Red Cross, Justice Vandale-Niccolls discusses water safety, representation and cultural connection.

With summer in full swing, we are all looking for ways to beat the heat while having fun, and what better way than to go for a swim? This year there has been a rise in new backyard pool owners, and whether it’s inflatable or above ground we want to help you ‘S.P.L.A.S.H.’ into summer fun while keeping your family safe!

We’ve all seen the terms “lifejacket” and “PFD” mentioned when talking about water safety, but what many people don’t know is that the two items are different in material, level of protection, and purpose. It’s like a bike helmet and a motorcycle helmet– both have similar purposes, but different circumstances will call for more appropriate use of one over the other.
 

Know your breaststroke from your front crawl? Think you’d be fine if you found yourself unexpectedly swimming in open water? Every year, even great swimmers drown so here’s a few reasons why everyone, even strong swimmers, need to wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD).

When Lesley-Anne Morley took on leadership of the Indigenous Swimming and Water Safety program for the Canadian Red Cross in 2014, she never imagined that, years later, she would be adapting the program for a global pandemic.

Trying to beat the heat this summer? Nothing’s better than a good swim, especially if you have floaties and other recreational water toys to play with.

Unfortunately, improper water toy use can lead to accidents or injury.

Stay safe with these tips for different types of water toys.

For more than 70 years, the Canadian Red Cross has been teaching kids right across the country how to swim through programming that is engaging, age appropriate, and, most of all, focused on being safely active around water.

There may be some differences this swimming season - and please follow local guidelines and rules when it comes to public water - but skills in water safety and first aid stay the same. With that in mind, we are providing a series of online water safety sessions to help keep your first aid skills strong this season.