As the hot temperatures continue in the Parkland, many people will be heading for the water this weekend.
Safety Management Coordinator with the Life-Saving Society of Manitoba, Dr. Christopher Love reminds you to have proper safety equipment with you at all times.
"Number one is wearing your life jacket or personal floatation device. If you're a parent or caregiver for small children, keep those children within arm’s reach. You can grab them and they can grab you, but for your older children into their teen years, there has to be active adult supervision."
He adds that you should never be out on the water while intoxicated.
"Do not be intoxicated whether it be drugs or alcohol, and we're not saying don't go out and have fun. the message is to go out have your fun, go swimming. go boating but save the party till after you're off the water at the end of the day"
For more information on boating safety in Manitoba, click here.
The Canadian Red Cross points out on their website, the most important factors to consider to help avoid water-related fatalities:
- Young children ages 1 to 4 and men ages 15 to 44 are at the greatest risk of drowning.
- Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Canadian children ages one to four.
- A small child can disappear in seconds and can drown in only a few centimetres of water-enough to cover the mouth and nose. Typically these drownings occur in backyard pools, toddler pools, the bathtub, or at the beach.
- Small children are also the most vulnerable group for near drownings. For every death, there are an estimated four to five additional near-drowning incidents, which require hospitalization and often result in varying degrees of brain damage.
- Infants and toddlers drowned mainly in bathtubs and pools, whereas older children and youth drowned mainly in large bodies of water.
- Other factors for adults in water-related fatalities included current and alcohol consumption.
A heat warning has been in effect for southern Manitoba this past week. Daytime temperatures have reached the low-to-mid thirties.
Manitobans are encouraged to check in regularly with vulnerable or socially isolated community members, friends and family.
Never leave people or pets alone in a parked vehicle or direct sunlight, and be sure to provide water.
