Water Safety

1. Wear sunscreen, and reapply as required (follow manufacturers instructions)
   • Sun Safety (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca)
2. Bring drinking water & sunglasses
3. Swim Smart - swim with a buddy, be aware of the water depth, waves/currents and temperature
4. Actively supervise children
5. Bring your lifejacket/PFD 
   • Transport Canada requires each person on a watercraft to have a lifejacket or PFD on board with them: Choosing lifejackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs) (canada.ca)
   •  Weak swimmers should wear a lifejacket in, on, or around the water
6. Consider taking CPR, First Aid, swimming lessons or a Swim to Survive program before your next trip
   • First Aid/CPR
     • Grey & Bruce Counties Service Area First Aid and CPR - Ontario - Canadian Red Cross
   • Swimming Lessons
     • Grey & Bruce Counties Service Area Swimming Lessons - Ontario - Canadian Red Cross

• A lifejacket will turn a person over from face-down to face-up, even if they are unconscious
  • Lifejackets are more buoyant than PFDs and are the best choice for weak swimmers
• A personal floatation device (PFD) will keep a person floating, but not necessarily face-up
  • A PFD is generally less bulky and more comfortable than a lifejacket, allowing for greater movement
• Unlike lifejackets and PFDs, puddle jumpers are not approved by Transport Canada and are not suitable for boating use

Look for a lifejacket or PFD with a label that says the device has been approved by any of the organizations below:

• Transport Canada
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Check this link for more info on Lifejackets and PFDs - Canadian Red Cross

Canadian Drowning Prevention Plan, 8th Edition (May 2021) (lifesavingsociety.com)