Drowning deaths more common in the summer

By Justin Sibbet, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A warm day on the water can quickly become a worst nightmare in mere seconds, but mere seconds may also prevent such a catastrophe.

Next week is National Drowning Prevention Week, with July 25 being recognized as World Drowning Prevention Day. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme this year for World Drowning Prevention Day is “Seconds can save a life.”

The WHO website says drowning is often a phantom lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce when least expected.

“Drowning is abrupt, silent and shocking, with people often not realizing it’s happening until it’s too late.”

The WHO says the cause of drowning can be as simple as “a small child slipping unnoticed into a pond or pool on a sunny afternoon,” or “deciding it’s too much of a hassle to put on that lifejacket.”

Whether worldwide or here in Canada, drowning is a serious issue. According to a 2020 national report by the LifeSaving Society, 450 Canadians die every year by drowning, while the WHO says nearly 250,000 people die by drowning every year worldwide.

Madison Lalonde, director of Communications and Public Education for the LifeSaving Society, says there is no excuse to avoid safety.

“It takes a few seconds for you to put on your life jacket, it takes a few seconds for you to put your phone in your pocket while you’re actively supervising your kid,” said Lalonde. “It also takes a few seconds for someone to fatally drown.”

She says, according to data her organization was able to pull, adults who fatally drown never use the most iconic life-saving item. 

“In the cases where we are aware, 100 per cent of those adults were not wearing a life jacket.”

As for fatal drownings among children, she says it always comes down to a lapse in concentration from the parent or supervisor in charge of the child.

“In Alberta, from 2015 to 2019, 100 per cent of fatal drownings that occurred in children under five-years-old were due to a lack of supervision or distracted supervision.”

She says ‘distracted supervision’ is when a supervisor is on their phone, looking away, dozing off or otherwise occupied while a child is near or in water.

Brendon Pyne, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Service water rescue team co-lead, says children in a pool or body of water should never be more than one arm’s length away.

“Always keeping an eye (on them), keeping them close,” said Pyne. 

Specifically for Lethbridge, residents may be enjoying the water in a backyard pool, public pool, lake or the Oldman River. Pyne says staying sober and safe is as easy as following a few simple steps.

“Number one, we ask people to refrain from alcohol and drug use when they are around those bodies of water,” said Pyne. “Making sure people have (personal flotation devices) if they can’t swim.”

He also says, particularly when travelling down the river, it is important to develop a ‘float plan’ and inform family or friends what the plan is. This means knowing where you are launching from and knowing the exact route you will take before reaching your destination. Furthermore, he says it is important to have the proper gear and equipment when heading out for a day on the water.

“Have waterproof cases for their phones, in case they do have to exit the river early, so they can make a phone call and let somebody know that they’re getting off the river,” said Pyne. “Appropriate footwear, in case you need to get out of the river.”

Furthermore, he urges people to avoid the weir at the Oldman River, telling residents to not swim or play near it. He also says complacency can be a deadly thing when getting into the water.

“Unfortunately, we get people who become complacent. Their friends are swimming without (personal flotation devices), so they think ‘I can just take it off and I can do this… I’ll just do one quick jump in the water and then I’ll get out and I’ll be good’. But it’s that one jump that takes the life.”

Both Pyne and Lalonde say it is important to learn to swim, with Lalonde saying most drownings occur when a person was not even intending to be in the water that day.

“They were just walking down the river valley, or they were on a boat… and they fell in,” said Lalonde.

Another individual who feels it is crucial to learn to swim is Cole Wirun, a lifeguard at Westminster Outdoor Public Pool. He says swimming should be taught to children because it is something that will serve them throughout their entire life.

“I think that swim lessons are super important because swimming is a necessity in life. It’s very important for all kids to be able to swim,” said Wirun. “It’s a life skill.”

He says every swimming class teaches the water smart information every week, not just during National Drowning Prevention Week because the risk of drowning is year-round.

“We don’t do anything extra, but we also make sure that it’s super cautious.”

He says anybody wanting swim lessons can reach out to the Westminster Pool at 403-320-3058 or by simply heading down.

As for the WHO, it says drowning can be a thing of the past with safety-conscious decision making. 

“So much can happen in a single moment. But with the right awareness and actions, what happens in those seconds can also be changed – for the better.”