Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is gearing up for another summer season of water safety.
Every summer, the HRM hires roughly 200 lifeguards to patrol beaches, lakes, outdoor pools and spray pools. The season for lifeguard supervision runs from July 1 — Aug. 31.
“We’re going full tilt with probably close to 200 [lifeguarding] students joining us for the summer, we’re ready to go,” said Rhonda Dea, an aquatics coordinator with the municipality.
Dea says despite the department’s best efforts to prevent drownings, tragic accidents still happen.
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“Unfortunately last summer we responded to two drownings that took place outside our supervised area. Lifeguards did everything they could, responded to the scene,” Dea said.
“It’s unfortunate but that’s one of the reasons why we stress the importance of not swimming alone, ensuring people know where you are, knowing the area and staying within that supervised space.”
The Life Saving Society of Nova Scotia reports that roughly 500 Canadians drown every year — 15 to 20 of those drownings happen in Nova Scotia.
Most victims of water accidents are males in their 30s who aren’t expecting to end up in the water, the society says.
“They often fall off stationary objects or out of a boat and they’re usually not wearing a personal flotation device and sometimes [they are] under the influence of alcohol,” society special projects director Paul D’Eon said.
D’Eon has been lifeguarding in Nova Scotia for more than 40 years and says all bodies of water can be dangerous, including backyard pools.
“Backyard pools are an issue. Most municipalities have bylaws that enforce fencing around the pool, usually a minimum of five feet with openings less than four inches so the kids can’t climb up and over,” D’Eon said.
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He says the most important thing parents can do is keep an eye on their children at all times when they’re around water.
“We urge parents and guardians to stay with their kids, enjoy the water with them and stay within arms reach. The lifeguards are not the babysitters, they’re trying to watch everyone in the water,” D’Eon said.