Water Safety

Water is one of life's greatest pleasures. Swimming is one of the healthiest forms of exercise, offering life-long, low impact cardio and core strength. Swimming also opens the door to so many wonderful recreational activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing, surfing and so much more.

But, water can also be dangerous, and demands respect and preparation. Did you know that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5? Drowning is also one of the top 3 causes of accidental death for people of all ages. This makes swimming and water safety awareness critical life-long skills. It's never too early--or too late--to learn to swim!

At Snappy Towels, we love the water, and we take water safety seriously. Here are some Summer Water Safety Tips, courtesy of the Canadian Red Cross:

Active supervision
  • The absence of adult supervision is a factor in most child drownings.
  • Whether it's a pool, the bathtub, a water park, or the beach, always watch children actively around water-even if they can swim.
  • Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket to keep them at the surface to assist you while supervising.
Backyard pools
  • Backyard pools are especially dangerous for small children. Ensure adequate barriers are in place such as four-sided fencing along with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
  • Empty portable toddler pools after each use.
Bathing children
  • When bathing infants or toddlers, an adult should remain with the child at all times- children should never be relied upon to supervise other children in the bath.
  • When a child is in the bathtub, never leave to answer the phone or for any other momentary distraction.
Diving
  • Diving headfirst into water should be avoided unless the individual is properly trained and is sure that the water is deep enough.
  • Avoid diving in home pools and always enter the water feet-first.
Open water
  • Never underestimate the power of current. Swimmers or waders can be swept away in an instant, particularly if non-swimmers or weak swimmers get caught by current in rivers or out of their depth in abrupt drop-offs.
  • Be cautious about swimming in currents, and know what to do if caught in a current.

You can learn more about water safety and swimming programs at the Red Cross website.

Download the Canadian Red Cross Summer Water Safety PDF here.