I know firsthand how important water safety is as I am the survivor of a near drowning at the age of 9 years old. My father wasn’t so lucky that day. Our family was torn apart by lack of preparedness and by the simple fact not one adult or child was wearing a life jacket. According to Safe Kids Canada “drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death to Canadian children ages 1 – 4.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States released just as sobering numbers stating “one and five people who die from drowning are under the age of 14.” As summer kicks into high gear and many of us take off to cabins, camp sites, boats and pool parties it is important to remember safety should always come first.

Any parent knows how hard it is to keep your eyes on every movement that a child can make, especially when they are both excited and in a fun-filled environment. Teenagers, who are apt to throw caution to the wind, also find themselves caught up in the moment and therefore may end up in a situation that puts their lives at risk too. With all the opportunities that are presented to be in or near water, parents may want to seriously consider water safety.

No matter what the age many people suffer from delusions of being invincible; males account for 80% of drowning victims. I’m sure you have seen many an adult try to do the right thing by outfitting their child with a flotation device but somehow feel they are not in need of such protection. Another fallacy that accompanies water accidents is the notion that strong swimmers will be OK; that is simply not true. When factors like temperature shocks to the system, body or head injury, exhaustion and drugs or alcohol are present nobody is immune to drowning.

Even people wearing life jackets have not survived in the water. Just recently a man off the BC Coast drowned after slipping off the swim grid of his boat. He couldn’t get back in and his wife couldn’t get him out of the water either; a truly tragic ending to what we all know up to that point was probably a lovely day.

Unfortunately, this story will not be unique as others will die by lake, sea or pool related accidents.

What can you do?

* Have a conversation about water safety with your family

* Get all family members to promise to wear life jackets when boating and for those children who are in or near water put those preservers on!

* Don’t use the excuses that life jackets are a hindrance, embarrassing or bad fashion you can buy inflatable jackets that are lightweight and flat to the body until you hit the water

* Build proper fencing around pools in accordance with your Province or States regulations

* Have extra safety devices on hand and know how to use them in an emergency

* If children are in the water or pool get a designated person to keep watch at all times; it will save a lifetime of heart ache

* Check your boat – Do you have handles on the swim grid or ladders that can be used to easily bring a man/woman overboard back on deck?

* Make sure that if you are not sober there is somebody that is; be alert

* Know the waters depth and undercurrent potential when swimming in open waters

Please take water safety seriously; your life and the life of people you love may depend on it.

This column is dedicated to my father who gave his life in an effort to save others one summer’s day.