For parents of children under 5 years of age
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Parents have a responsibility to vigilantly supervise their young children.
- Keep your eyes on young children at all times around water. And stay close – within arms’ reach.
- At the pool or beach, put young children in lifejackets to keep them at the surface. This may give you the seconds needed to save a life.
- Stay tub-side until all the water has drained or you have removed your child from the tub.
- Restrict and control access to backyard pools by fencing all four sides.
- Empty and turn over wading pools and buckets of water when not in use.
- Take Parent & Tot lessons at your local pool. A positive introduction to water can give your child a lifetime of pleasure swimming. Toddlers get used to the water with their parents in an instructional setting.
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For Parents of Children 5 - 12 Years of Age
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Don’t be a distracted parent
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- Research informs us that we can only concentrate on one thing at one time.
- This is particularly important when it comes to children around water.
- A child can drown in seconds and it often happens silently.
- Drowning victims cannot keep their heads above water so they cannot speak or call out for help.
- If you are on your phone you cannot see them and likely will not hear them.
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Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Checklist
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- Has a Transport Canada (TC) or Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) label identifying the PFD as certified safe and effective in Canada. The label will also identify the appropriate size and weight restrictions for the user.
- Whistles (a sound signalling device) should be attached to the zipper of the PFD in case the wearer falls out of a boat. The whistle will make noise to bring help.
- All child-sized PFDs have a grab strap around the top of the PFD to help grab kids who have fallen into the water. The rescuer who grabs the strap will be in a boat or on a dock.
- A zipper closes the front of the PFD. To make the PFD safer, a buckle runs around the PFD. The buckle has a strap that can be tightened to fit a variety of sizes.
- Ties are placed at the bottom of the PFD to ensure a tight fit around the hips. This will help stop the PFD from going over the shoulders.
- Variety of colours and styles. Colours are usually bright and easy to see ; red, yellow and orange are the most common.
- Around all parts of the PFD, reflective tape is used to help rescuers better see a person who has fallen into the water.
- Large collar for head support.
- No rips or tears.
- A buckle strap between the legs is common for all child-sized PFDs.
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