Swimming and Water Safety

The pandemic provided opportunities for program instructors to innovate and expand delivery of water safety and injury prevention courses in Indigenous communities, says Kailee Berezowski, a program coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross Indigenous Swimming and Water Safety program in Alberta.

The Canadian Red Cross family experienced a great loss last week. Long-time volunteer, mentor, Master Instructor Trainer (MIT), and friend, Barney Chanda, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, October 13th. Many will recognize Barney for his many appearances over the years in Red Cross first aid and water safety manuals, videos, and resources.

Parents, teachers and caregivers can all play an important role in keeping children safe when they are in, on or around water. Drowning is preventable. Through education, we can help children enjoy the water safely this summer.

The Red Cross has put together a series of educational resources on water safety intended for both children and those who care for them.  
 

Maybe it’s happened to you: You’re skating along the frozen surface of a lake, when CRACK! You see a fracture in the ice shoot out from under your skates. Suddenly you’re wondering… How thick is this ice? Should I be this far out? Tips from Canadian Red Cross ice safety expert Lynn Kolba for having a safe day on the ice.

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).