Swimming this summer? Edmonton officials are ramping up safety awareness

The City of Edmonton marked drowning prevention week with demonstrations on how to stay safe in and around water.

As swimmers flock to indoor and outdoor pools this summer, Edmonton city officials are revisiting ways to prevent drowning accidents.

As of July 21, the city says attendance at public pools has already hit 36,607 for the season.

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The reminder comes during National Drowning Prevention week, which runs from July 20 to 26.

The city held a lifejacket demonstration Thursday and will mark Friday, which is the fifth anniversary of National Drowning Prevention day, with a flag-raising ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II building.

Madison Lalonde, director of public education at Lifesaving Society for Alberta and Northwest Territories, was at the demonstration because it’s an “excellent example of community action.”

“Drowing is fast, silent and devastating,” she said.

She added that in Alberta, drowning claims lives particularly among marginalized communities. Men also account for a disproportionate amount of drowning deaths.

Young children, she said, are also at greater risk, with 100 per cent of child drowning deaths involving “distracted or absent supervision.”

Lalonde also notes that many water-related incidents are preventable. A city release gave the following tips on staying safe:

• keep an eye on children around the water, including all open bodies of water, backyard pools and bathtubs.
• be aware that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Check local conditions before heading into open water, know the limits and know that inflatables can drift farther than intended.
• always swim with someone else. Many fatal drownings happen when people swim alone.
• on rivers, regardless of water vessel or swimming ability, don’t forget a lifejacket and know how to wear it properly.
• stay sober in, on and around water. Alcohol and cannabis can impair balance, judgement and reflexes, putting yourself and others at risk.

“These are choices that can and must be changed through awareness, education and action,” Lalonde said.

The city is offering free swimming programs at Clareview, Mill Woods and The Meadows recreation centres as an introduction to using swimming pools.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Darcy Seaton