Water safety experts in Quebec ‘very concerned’ as summer looms
Global News
Quebec health-care and swimming experts are urging caution after a deadly weekend in the province, including where a four-year-old boy died involving a backyard pool.
Quebec health-care and swimming experts are urging caution after a deadly weekend in the province, where a four-year-old boy died and two other children nearly drowned in separate incidents involving backyard pools.
The Montreal Children’s Hospital Trauma Centre issued an alert on water safety shortly after the weekend, with the goal of preventing what normally is a fun summer activity from “taking a wrong turn.”
“We’re very, very concerned at the fact that summer has barely started and we have had several drownings this year,” said Liane Fransblow, co-ordinator for the injury prevention program at trauma centre.
Drowning not only occurs quickly, it is silent. It can happen to everyone — and anyone can be a victim, Fransblow said.
“There is nobody who is immune to drowning,” she said.
The trauma centre is urging vigilance through several ways, including close and constant adult supervision of children near water. It also advises never swimming alone and learning CPR training.
The Montreal Children’s Hospital lists several measures to prevent children from drowning, including restricting direct access to pools and installing adequate fencing around it. Gates and fences should always be locked when the pool isn’t being used, too.
Raynald Hawkins, general manager of the Lifesaving Society’s Quebec branch, also stressed clamping down on access to backyard pools.
