Water Safety Week is underway
The Canadian Red Cross has launched its annual Water Safety Week campaign, which runs from June 5-12. It focuses on the importance of following basic safety protocols near all bodies of water.
With warm temperatures in the north, a lot of people are cooling off by making their way to the water. That's why the Red Cross says the week is a good reminder for people to always be aware of potentially dangerous situations.
“Make sure no one is entering the water by themselves, that there is always adult supervision,” said Shannon Scully-Pratt, First Aid program representative with the Canadian Red Cross.
"Take your kids around the pool and make sure they know where the deep end is and the shallow end and they know how to get out if they fall in."
Scully-Pratt said each year, roughly 500 Canadians die from water-related causes. She said the majority are drownings involving children under the age of five and males between the ages of 15 and 30.
“Children like to wander off when it’s not expected,” she said. “Then you have those 15-year-old teenagers who are feeling peer pressured that might be going cliff jumping or rock jumping. We see them taking extra risks and that’s not something we want to see because you don’t know what’s at the bottom of that river.”
The Greater Sudbury Police Service has been patrolling waterways and making sure people are staying safe while in their watercraft.
Officials said even though there have been no fatalities this year, there have been some close calls.
“We’ve had some incidents where both the operator and passenger have fallen out of the vessel and the vessel has run them over,” said Const. Kevin Tremblay.
"So, it’s very important to be familiar with the waterways, be competent in your operation. If you’re not sure, slow down and take things easy. Get to know your vessel before making any trips."
The Red Cross said it’s important to have safety devices nearby at all times.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.