Water Safety

Standard Safety and Supervisory Standards in Town Beaches

There are safety standards so that everyone can enjoy the Town’s beaches.

Each ratio below indicates the maximum number of children that one responsible person 16 years or older can supervise. The guardian or supervisor must be in proper bathing attire, in the water, actively participating and within arm’s reach at all times.

Take the "Are you a Water Smart Parent?" Quiz - Lifesaving Society (link is external)

Beach Aquatic Standards
Age	Requirements	Guardian: Child Ratio
Children 0-5 years	Must be accompanied by a guardian 16 years of age or older who remains in the water and within arm's reach at all times.	1:2
Children 6-7 years	Must be accompanied by a guardian 16 years of age or older who remains in the water and within arm's reach at all times.	1:4 or 1:6 if wearing lifejackets/PFD's
Children 8-10 years	Must be accompanied by a guardian 16 years of age or older who remains in the water and within arm's reach at all times.	1:4 or 1:8 if wearing lifejackets/PFD's

Groups and Camps of 10 or More Participants
Age	Requirements	Adult: Child Ratio
Children 0-5 years	Must be accompanied by a supervisor 16 years of age or older who remains in the water and within arm's reach at all times.	1:2
Children 6-7 years	Must be accompanied by a supervisor 16 years of age or older who remains in the water and within arm's reach at all times.	1:4 or 1:6 if wearing lifejackets/PFD's
Children 8-10 years	Must be accompanied by a supervisor 16 years of age or older who remains in the water and within arm's reach at all times.	1:4 or 1:8 if wearing lifejackets/PFD's
Children 11-15 years	Must be accompanied by a supervisor 16 years of age or older.	1:15

Event and Group Bookings

To book an event at the beach or bring your group to swim at the beach, contact the Nick Smith Centre at 613-623-7301 or recreation@arnprior.ca (link opens email application).

High-Risk People or Participants

High-risk people or participants must be in a ratio of 1:1. High-risk people have a condition or illness that may put them at risk in the water, such as frequent seizures or fainting conditions. This includes people who are unable to control their behaviour or impulses and require direct supervision. The supervisory ratios for groups of high-risk people will be determined by aquatic staff based on the specific needs of the people and their associated risks. We recommend you call the Nick Smith Centre before you visit.

Water Smart Tips

Drowning is fast, silent and preventable. This page provides helpful tips to ensure water safety at all times.

Adult Supervision while Swimming

Whether at the beach, in a deep pool or in an inflatable pool, young swimmers should always be supervised by a responsible adult who:

Knows how to swim
Has access to a reliable phone to call 911 in the event of an emergency
Knows the location of safety equipment
Knows basic water rescue, first aid, and CPR

Be a Water Watcher

Here is how you can be a Water Watcher:

Make sure a responsible adult who can swim is supervising your backyard pool any time people are in the water.
- Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children under 10 years of age. Backyard pools are the number one location where these drownings occur, often during a short lapse in supervision.
Stay within arm's reach of non-swimmers.
- Be close enough to provide immediate help. All children under 5 years should always be within arm’s reach of an adult when near water or in the water.
Stay close to the pool's edge.
- You need to be able to see or "scan" the entire surface and bottom of the pool and be able to respond quickly.
Watch every child. Get extra help if needed.
- Watch children's faces to see if they look panicked. This could mean they are in distress. If you're having trouble keeping track of all the children, get help from another Water Watcher supervisor to help.
Make sure weak and non-swimmers wear lifejackets or personal floatation devices.
- Lifejackets or personal floatation devices can help prevent accidents but they do not replace adult supervision.
Ensure constant supervision. Drowning is fast and silent.
- Need a bathroom break? Time to tend to the BBQ? Want to check your phone? Designate another responsible adult as the Water Watcher in your absence. Drowning is fast. It can happen in only inches of water and in a matter of seconds.

Backyard Pool Safety

Did you know that:

Backyard pools are the number one location where children drown.
Each year in Canada, an average of 487 people die from drowning.
Drowning can occur in as little as 10 to 20 seconds, in only centimetres of water.

Everyone using your pool should:

Know how to swim. It's never too late to learn how to swim.
Know which part of the pool is deep or shallow.
Know the location of the nearest phone.
Always swim with a buddy, never alone.
Be sober. Alcohol and pools don't mix.
Stay out of the pool if there's thunder, lightning, or if the bottom of the pool cannot be seen clearly.

Pool Fences

Does your pool fence meet the Arnprior's Pool enclosure By-Laws?

The minimum fence height allowed in Arnprior is 1.5 m or 5 feet 153 cm (60 inches).
Every swimming pool fence gate must have a self-closing and self-latching mechanism.

Does the by-law apply to a portable pool?

The By-law applies to any privately-owned outdoor pool of water able to hold a water depth equal to or greater than 600 mm (24 in) at any point.
This includes ponds, blow up pools, self-inflating pools, and hot tubs.

Life Jackets and Pool Toys

Lifejackets, personal floatation devices, water wings, pool noodles and other floatation devices do not keep you safe in the pool. This equipment can be fun, but it is not a replacement for adult supervision.
Lifejackets and personal floatation devices must fit correctly to work. We do not recommend water wings as they can deflate or slip, leaving a child dangling under water.

Water Health and Safety

Renfrew County and District Health Unit monitors the water quality at municipally owned or operated public bathing beaches. Monitoring is done weekly from June until August, and includes a visual inspection of beach conditions and testing for bacteria. Beaches with consistently good test results may be monitored once every two weeks.

Signs warning against swimming are posted when beach conditions pose a potential health risk to bathers. Most often the posting of a beach is due to high levels of bacteria in the water. Check Beach Water Quality Results - Renfrew County and District Health Unit (link is external) for the latest water-quality results and no swimming advisories.