Within Arms Reach
If you are not within arms’ reach of your child, you’ve gone too far.
Drownings are preventable.
Drownings involving toddlers can be prevented if parents or caregivers are within arms’ reach of their children when they are near water.
Designate a backyard pool lifeguard. An adult should always supervise whenever children are using a pool -- in-ground, above ground or wading pool. If you must be absent
for a moment, designate another adult to replace you or close the pool until someone can assume supervisory duties.
Stay tub-side until all the water is drained and you have removed your children from the tub. Most bathtub drownings occur because youngsters were left alone for “just a moment”.
Drain bathtubs when they are not in use. Empty unattended wading pools and buckets of water and turn them over.
Put a lifejacket on children who can’t swim when they’re in a boat or at the beachor pool. Be vigilant. Many children who drown do so because parents or caregivers lose sight of
them for a very short period of time.
Drowning is a big problem in Canada
Almost 500 Canadians drown each year, and children under 5 are at high-risk. In fact, drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children under 10 years of age.
Most toddlers drown in backyard pools.
Their natural curiosity combined with an almost magnetic attraction to water means toddlers have a high risk of drowning anytime they are near water – natural or man-made.
What to do in the water?
How close should I be?
You should be within arms reach of anyone under 6 years of age at all times, they may trip or wander too far at anytime.
How many kids should I have with me?
The most amount of children you can hold at one time is equal to the number of arms you have availble. If you have three kids under 6 then you need atleast one more reposible arm with you.
What can I do in the water with my kids?
You have many options of what you can do in the water:
- Practice blowing bubbles
- Practice picking objects off the bottom
- Practice jumping into the water
- Practice your floats
- Go down the slide
- Just hang out with them and help them explore
Drowning is a silent killer.
Drowning victims rarely call or wave or signal for help because they can’t keep their head or
arms above water. Even when they manage to get their head above water, inhaling air – not
calling for help is their priority.
Drowning happens in seconds
Drowning can take as little as 10 seconds and occurs in just inches of water…in bathtubs,
wading pools, and wells, even buckets. Never leave a child alone near the water. Don’t be
distracted by a ringing phone, a doorbell or another child.
