PROLIFERATION OF POOLS INCREASES SAFETY RISKS IN THE OFF-ISLAND REGION

One only has to look down when flying over the Off-Island region and its neighbourhoods to realize the area is home to thousands of backyard swimming pools. In fact, there are so many visible from above that it would be safe to say that the number of backyards with a swimming pool far outnumbers those that do not have one. I was reminded of this when a visitor from out west arrived chez-nous a week ago proclaiming that he had never seen so many swimming pools from the sky previously. It’s an undeniable fact; Quebecers love our piscines, particularly at this time of year. It’s also a fact that our province sees a large number of drownings each year, whether in pools or in any one of our many nearby waterways, something that is abundant in the Off-Island area. This past weekend, a 36-year-old man disappeared while swimming in the Soulanges canal, his body being later recovered in an area where swimming is prohibited. As of June of this year, Quebec has witnessed 18 fatal drownings. A spokesperson for the Quebec Lifesaving Society says that number includes both adults and children of all ages, and explained that the majority of drownings tend to occur in July, followed by June and August. However, drowning is the leading cause of death in children aged 1 to 4 years old. Most often, children drown in residential pools after accidentally falling into the water when no adult is supervising them. Even those smaller inflatable or temporary plastic pools purchased locally with ease and filled with a hose can be fatal to a child in an instant. In fact, a child can drown in as little as 15 to 20 seconds. Perhaps then, a reminder to exercise caution and perform safety checks prior to swimming at home or elsewhere, and as the annual construction and summer holiday period commences is in order. Above all, monitor and supervise your children whenever near water at all times.

Safety Measures to Prevent Drowning: sante.gouv.qc.ca/en/ conseils-et-prevention/prevenir-la-noyade/ The 2017 Canadian Drowning Report: www.lifesaving.ca/ wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ The-National-Drowning-Report2017-Edition.pdf

The Lifesaving Society knows that drownings are preventable and recommends that you learn and use their tips to protect yourself and those around you: www. lifesaving.ca/what-we-do/watersmart-public-education/