The backyard pool provides the ultimate summer fun for kids,
friends and family. But to keep it fun, it's important to know the
risks so you can avoid danger - whether you own the pool, or you're
just visiting. The single most important way to keep everyone safe
is to ensure that young children are always supervised in and
around the pool. If you know the risks, you can establish pool
rules so everyone can stay safe and have fun.
Backyard pool safety facts:
- Most common location for children under five drowning.
- Drowning is fast and silent - not like in the movies. There's
no splashing and no screaming.
- Most backyard pools are too shallow for safe diving.
- Every municipality has different bylaws for pools and
fencing.
Backyard pool safety tips:
- Appoint an adult to actively supervise any children at the pool
at all times - the Lifesaving Society's On Guard card is a handy
tool and reminder, with useful tips.
- Keep children under five within arms' reach in and around the
water.
- Control and restrict access to water - a latching gate and
four-sided fencing can prevent accidents and unintended access to
the water.
- Use the Society's Backyard Pool Safety Inspections Guidelines
with the Backyard Pool Checklist.
Learn to Swim
Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any
meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. The Lifesaving
Society offers training programs from learn-to-swim through advanced lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership.
Our Swim for
Life program stresses lots of in-water practice to develop
solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate valuable Water
Smart® education that will last a lifetime.
Swim to
Survive is a Lifesaving Society survival training program. Swim
to Survive is not a subsititute for swimming lessons; instead, it defines the
minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep
water. People of all ages should be able to perform the Society's
Swim to Survive standard.