Take five to consider water safety during National Drowning Prevention Week

People are swimming in Kempenfelt Bay at Centennial Beach in Barrie, Ont. in this file image. PHOTO: CTV NEWS/BARRIE

Beautiful beaches, pools and boating trips abound when you’re in Barrie.

This year’s National Drowning Prevention Week simply asks residents and visitors to

‘Be Prepared to be Water Smart.’

According to the Lifesaving Society, over 400 Canadians die in preventable water-related incidents each year.

Drowning Prevention Week runs from Monday to Saturday and the focus is on planning ahead and making safe choices.

Lifesaving Society has an easy list of Dos and Don’ts

• Supervise Children: Always directly supervise children around the water – if you are not within arm’s reach, you’ve gone too far.
• Boating Safety: Don’t boat alone and always wear a lifejacket when in a boat.
• Learn to Swim: In most drownings, the victim never intended to go in the water and was often close to safety – could you survive a sudden and unexpected fall into the water?
• Stay Sober In, On, and Around Water: Alcohol consumption is a factor in many water-related fatalities. Both alcohol and cannabis use impair balance, judgment, and reflexes. Stay sober when in, on, or around the water.

Barrie’s lifeguards will be visiting parks and playgrounds across the city during the week to share water safety education and the importance of learning how to swim.

The city offers swimming lessons for all ages. People who are taking lessons for the first time are encouraged to sign up for a free swim assessment this summer.

Barrie’s certified swimming instructors can help people with no experience get started, and for people who complete the free swim assessment, they will be entered into a draw to win a free session of swimming lessons this fall.

Two Barrie beaches are providing the Personal Floatation Devices (PDF) loan service to prevent drownings by increasing the availability of life jackets and educating the public on how to fit and use them.

Visitors can borrow free lifejackets from the lifeguard offices at both Centennial Beach and Johnson’s Beach during lifeguards on-duty schedules: 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.