A very sad start to the season with three child drownings in just a few days, it is important to ensure increased supervision of children near swimming pools, said the general manager of the Lifesaving Society, Raynald Hawkins.
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“Drowning in children is 15 to 20 seconds. It is a phenomenon that is silent. It’s not true that we’re going to hear the child calling for help. Everything is done, more often than not, without the knowledge of the adults who are responsible for it, ”explained Mr. Hawkins in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
He also pointed out that 85% of child drownings in residential swimming pools occur when there is no supervision.
“When we have group parties and we know that we have a body of water in our yard, I would tend to say that there must be constant monitoring that is done,” explained Raynald Hawkins, adding that when you decide to open the pool during an event of this kind, you have to assign someone to the role of lifeguard.
For Mr. Hawkins, the best way to prevent drowning, other than supervision, is to limit access to the pool.
“It has to be surrounded by a fence and the door that gives it access has an automatic closing,” he mentioned.
Remember that since 2010, it is mandatory to install a fence around the pool to limit access.