Drowning is when a person suffers difficulty breathing because their mouth or nose is blocked by water or another liquid. Drowning can lead to serious injury or death if the person is not promptly rescued and given medical care.1
Indigenous people are ten times more likely to drown than anyone else in Canada2 due to a lack of water safety infrastructure, being in remote areas, having limited access to swimming lessons and emergency medical services such as ambulances, as well as climate change and environmental factors. For example, a flood can increase the risk of drowning in communities due to changing water levels and unpredictable weather patterns.
The use of water bodies is an integral part of First Nations practices, and we must keep these practices alive, while ensuring the safety of the population.
Here are some tips to minimize the risks of drowning:3
- Everyone should have basic swimming skills and CPR skills, for example through lessons from the Red Cross, the Lifesaving Society, or Canot Kayak Québec.
- Everyone can benefit from learning about water safety and following basic swim skills training.
- A responsible adult should always be assigned when children are in or near water.
- People of all ages and swimming abilities should wear a life jacket.
- Lakes and rivers can have dangerous hazards such as strong waves, rocks and limited visibility. Check the local forecast before going swimming in a lake or river and make sure to always wear a life jacket even if you are a good swimmer.
- Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, canoeing, fishing, hunting and boating.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while supervising children.
- Avoid trying to hold your breath underwater for long periods of time because this can cause you to lose consciousness and drown.
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