EMS Spokesman Stuart Brideaux said people need to remember to be careful around water after a near drowning July 2 on Chestermere Lake.
“Just after 11:30 a.m, EMS from Chestermere responded to Anniversary Park…for reports a young girl had been found floating face down in the water for an unknown period of time,” he said.
According to Brideaux, the six-year-old girl was awake and talking by the time EMS arrived, although bystanders told paramedics she was unresponsive when she was first pulled from the water. She was transported by EMS to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary in serious, but otherwise stable condition.
Chestermere RCMP Staff Sergeant Mark Weilgus said officers from the Chestermere detachment were called to assist EMS.
“We can’t release any more details than what EMS has about the incident itself,” he said.
“We’re looking to obtain more information to determine what, if any, involvement we should or shouldn’t have. We don’t believe there’s any on-going risk or anything associated with the park or the beach in Chestermere.”
Brideaux said he is hoping people will remember to observe a few simple water safety tips to ensure they are safe when boating, water-skiing or participating in other water sports.
“Small children are the most vulnerable group for near drownings,” he said. “A small child can disappear under the water in seconds and can drown in only a few centimeters of water – enough to cover the mouth and nose. Continual supervision is recommended for young children in and around the water.”
The Lifesaving Society Alberta and Northwest Territories Branch provides information and tips about water safety, according to Chief Administrative Officer Barbara Costache.
“We want people to enjoy themselves but we want them to be water safe,” she said. “Anytime they’re in or around the water, there’s some key tips that are easy to do and will prevent drowning.”
Costache said one of the most important tips for parents and caregivers is to ensure they are “actively supervising and within arms reach” of small children, particularly those under the age of eight and those that can’t swim.
“We need parents and caregivers to actually be listening, watching and aware of what’s going on,” she said.
“Sometimes you might see that mom or dad might be on the beach texting or that sort of thing – active supervision goes along with being in arms reach.”
July 17 to 23 is National Drowning Prevention Week in Canada. Costache said getting the word out about water safety is key to helping to prevent drowning.
According to Lifesaving Society drowning statistics, in 2013 there were 466 drownings in Canada with 56 in Alberta. Eighty per cent of drowning deaths are male and 37 per cent of drownings occurring in lakes.
“What we’re finding in our drowning statistics is it’s not just children that are drowning. Swimming is a high recreational activity for increases in drowning in adults and older adults,” Costache said.
Costache said the Lifesaving Society recommends all individuals engaged in water recreation do so with a buddy – whether that’s swimming, boating or fishing.
Wearing a life jacket is also key to safe water recreation.
“We know that life jackets save lives,” Costache said. “It’s important that individuals are wearing life jackets not just for boating but also in recreational swimming environments – backyard pools, public swimming pools, lakes, rivers, that sort of thing.
“If you’re at the lake, put the little ones in a life jacket and then if there is a momentary lapse in supervision, the life jacket will keep them at the surface at least.”
For more information, visit lifesaving.org
