The key Water Smart message for parents is:
If you are not "within arms' reach" of your children
anytime they are around water, you have gone too
far.
"Unattended toddlers" are high risk because they are mobile,
curious and require close and constant supervision by an adult.
Children under 5 years of age are the least capable of self-rescue
of any age group. Most of these children were alone and playing
near water when they fell in and drowned.
Parents are the focus of this target group given their
supervisory role. The message is designed to provide parents with
specific and concrete parameters for their supervisory role in a
meaningful, compelling manner.
To obtain the brochures, posters and materials that the Society
has developed as part of the Water Smart campaign, visit lifeguarddepot.com.
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We also have a Within Arms' Reach video and DVD, directed at
backyard pool owners. It features Barbara Underhill, World's Pairs
Champion figure skater, who lost her eight-month-old daugther in a
backyard pool tragedy.
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.