This week is National Drowning Prevention Week, and the Lifesaving Society has teamed up with STARS Air Ambulance to promote water safety. Local flight paramedics demonstrated how to respond to a near drowning of a child at their base this morning as Jamey Myers says it’s important for the public to know how to handle the situation.
“Remember to activate the healthcare system immediately – to call 9-1-1 – but somebody needs to stay with that patient; somebody needs to make sure that they obviously are out of the water, that they don’t have a chance of being re-submerged, and they have to make sure that they give the adequate and appropriate information to the 9-1-1 dispatchers.”
He emphasizes that water-related fatalities are preventable, and Albertans can avoid them by supervising children without distractions and making sure they’re wearing lifejackets. Other ways to reduce the risks of drowning include staying within an arms’ reach of children near water, and never swimming alone or while intoxicated.
He also encourages everyone to become CPR certified. 28 Albertans drowned in 2014.