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Water Safety

Water safety for adults

In Ontario, the major contributors to an adult drowning include:

  • Not wearing a lifejacket or a personal floatation device (PFD)
    This continues to be an issue particularly among men and is the number one contributing factor in recreational boating drownings.
  • Consumption of alcoholic beverages 
    Alcohol is a contributing factor in half of all water-related deaths among men 18 to 49 years of age.
  • Persons on or near the water ALONE
    Two-thirds of victims over 50 years of age, were alone when the drowning occurred.

(The Royal Life Saving Society Canada Report 2018)

TIPS
  • Wear a lifejacket or PFD
  • If you drink, don't drive your boat
  • Avoid swimming alone
  • Be prepared, get trained
For the full report on drowning statistics and information in Ontario, click Lifesaving Society - Ontario Drowning Report.

Diving Safety

Did you know?

  • Diving is the leading sports-related cause of spinal-cord injuries.
  • Many diving incidents result in quadriplegia - a partial or complete loss of functioning in legs, arms and the trunk area. Ninety five percent of diving injuries occur in water five feet deep or less, in an unsupervised setting with no warning signs.
  • Typical diving-related spinal injury occur in males, 17-22 years old, with no formal training in diving.
  • Over 50% of diving injuries/deaths involve alcohol and/or drug use.
  • Over 40% of spinal injuries caused by diving occur in backyard pools.

For more on diving and safe water entry visit the Red Cross Society
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