Red Cross research suggests Alberta parents underestimate measures needed to prevent child drowning

Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children younger than 10, but recent Canadian Red Cross research shows that the majority of Alberta parents do not understand what is needed to safeguard children in, on and around the water. On average, 13 children drown needlessly every year in the Prairie Provinces.


“Children can drown quickly and quietly, and often in situations where they were not expected to enter the water,” says Kevin Paes, water safety manager for the Canadian Red Cross in Western Canada. “Only one-third of children and youth who drown in Canada were taking part in aquatic activities that parents typically see as risky, like swimming or wading. One-third of children drown in situations where they enter the water unexpectedly, like by falling from a dock or entering the water without their caregiver’s knowledge.”

Research suggests that parents in Alberta have a false sense of security when their children are near water. One in five parents in Alberta say they would allow a child younger than six to play near the water without a lifejacket on, believing them to be safe so long as they are not actually swimming. However, four out of five children of this age who drown in Canada were not expected to enter the water.

Red Cross public opinion research shows that Canadian parents significantly underestimate children’s risk of drowning in shallow water. Ninety-eight per cent of parents with children younger than four say that water depth influences their level of supervision. However, data shows that 40 per cent of children drown in water less than one metre deep, and 90 per cent of children who drown in shallow water are not with a supervising adult.

“Sixty per cent of child drownings occur between June and August. If past trends continue, 34 children could drown between today and Labour Day,” adds Paes. “With summer around the corner, we urge parents to understand the risks to children not just when they are in the water, but also when they are on or near it.”

June 1st to 8th is Water Safety Week, and the Red Cross is calling on all parents and adults to properly supervise children by maintaining them within reach and within sight at all times. The Red Cross has been helping to keep Canadians safe in, on and around water since 1946. For more information about Canadian Red Cross swimming and water safety programs, or for safety tips, visit www.redcross.ca/swim.