Lifesaving Society Ontario
400 Consumers Road M2J 1P8 Toronto, ON, Canada

New week, new Water Smart activities! This week our focus is swimming with a buddy! You should never swim alone. Who is your swimming buddy? Check out the new ...Water Smart activities to do at home: Swim with a Buddy Word Scramble: http://www.lifesavingsociety.com//swim%20with%20a%20buddy% Swim with a Buddy Q & A Matchup: http://www.lifesavingsociety.com//swim%20with%20a%20buddy% Remember, you still have a chance to win your own buddy with the Water Smart At Home Contest! http://www.lifesavingsociety.com/water-safety/resources.aspx

Society to Extend Currency of Vocational Awards The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the closure of aquatic facilities and the cancellation of certification and rec...ertification courses. To support aquatic staff and the re-opening of aquatic facilities, the Lifesaving Society Ontario plans to extend the validity of awards required for employment that expired between March 1, 2020 and the date aquatic programming is allowed to resume. Specifically, the Society plans to extend the currency of vocational awards for a period of 90 days from date that the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care allows aquatic facilities and recreation centres to re-open. We are in contact with the ministry on this and will advise of any additional information, including exact dates, as it becomes available. Lifesaving Society certification cards will not be reprinted. Aquatic employers and employees do not need to take any actions to qualify for the extensions. The Society continues to be guided by the advice of the Public Health Agency of Canada and the recommendations of provincial public health authorities. Rest assured that the Society will ensure that instructors and lifeguards are eligible to work when Ontario aquatic facilities reopen and that the Society’s instructors, examiners and trainers can resume leadership training when the current public health restrictions are lifted.

Brock University is running a National Lifeguard recert, Saturday December 14, 9:00-1:00pm, $79.00. Course code 6908. Register online at brocku.ca/aquatics or call us at 905-688-5550 ext 4060.

Brock University is running a Standard First Aid CPR-C, Saturday and Sunday November 23-24, 8:30-5pm each day, $97.00. Course code 6920. To register online go to brocku.ca/aquaitcs or call the Welcome Desk at 905-688-5550 ext 4060.

Hi everyone, I still have some spots in the Airway Management, Sunday November 24, 11am-4pm, $54.00. Course code 6956 Please register with us at brocku.ca/aquatics or you can call us at 905-688-5550 ext. 4060. Great credit to recertify your Lifesaving Society Instructor, EFA Instructor and Swim Instructor! Please pass along!... Thanks See more

The Canadian Drowning Prevention Coalition Press Release May 15, 2019

Please like & follow the Niagara Drowning Prevention Coalition!

The Lifesaving Society’s thoughts are with the thousands of Canadians that are affected across the country by flooding. If you are living in a flood zone, here... are a few tips to help keep you and your family safe: Move to higher ground if there is a chance of a flash flood. Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Evacuate if told to do so. Click on the link below to learn more : https://www.ontario.ca/page/floods *********************************************************************** La Société de sauvetage est de tout coeur avec les milliers de canadiens touchés par les inondations partout au pays. Si vous vivez dans une zone inondable, voici quelques conseils pour protéger, vous et votre famille: Déplacez-vous vers des endroit élever s'il y a un risque d'inondation soudain. Ne marchez pas, ne nagez pas et ne conduisez pas dans les eaux de crue. Éloignez-vous des ponts au-dessus des eaux rapides. Évacuez si on vous dit de le faire. Cliquez sur le lien ci-dessous pour en savoir plus: https://www.ontario.ca/fr/page/inondations See more

I repeat TEST YOUR INFANT/CHILD life vests/flotation device, as they could actually contribute to drowning!! Wear vest when required. Try not to use as a swimmi...ng aid/assistance device, instead better to BE with your child when swimming. We recently bought our 2yr old and 5yr old life vests for when we go out on our small fishing boat in case of emergency.(NOT for swimming aids) We went to the beach this weekend to test the vests. Both vests are certified by the Coast Guard and were fitted appropriately for their weight, as well as fastened very securely/properly to them. WATCH as this life vest actually rolls my 2yr old son FACE DOWN into the water. We were shocked, as I did research into which vest would safely keep my child face up in an emergency. (I will note that my daughter had an identical vest, just one size bigger for weight, and it did NOT put her face down. However my daughter also has been taking Infant Self Rescue Training(Infant Swimming Resource) the last 4yrs, so knows/practices staying face up). PLEASE share. Please test your vests and share your videos with me and your experience with you life vests on your young children. ...now we need to find a new life vest... ***UPDATE/IMPORTANT INFO*** After reading through US Coast Guard approved websites, articles, as well as thoroughly through all the materials that were (by law) attached to my life Jackets when I purchased them, I have learned these things about Infanct/Child Life Jackets: 1) **THER IS NO LIFE JACKET THAT THE US COAST GUARD CAN 100% GUARANTEE WILL TURN A CHILD FACE UP IN AN EMERGENCY** (I assumed as a consumer that this safety product guaranteed my childs safety in an emergency, not fully true). The US Coast Guard Type 1(Offshore Life Jacket) PFD's is the top classification for saving unconscious victims and have the greatest ability to turn a child face-up, but even the Coast Guard says "Will turn MOST unconscious victims face-up". This is what I believe is not super clear to consumers That NO VEST can guarantee a face-up position in all situations for your child. (The reputable company I bought the vest from advertise that this WILL turn my child face-up, which I believe is wrong and misleading to consumers, when the US Coast Guard can not even guarantee this) 2) **USCG Type 1 PFD’s (top classification for saving in emergency) DO NOT COME IN INFANT SIZES(30lbs or less) too bulky.** Infant vests only come in TYPE 2: (Near Shore Bouyant Vest). Which states turns SOME unconscious victims face-up. (see link for USCG recommended(Type 2) classification for Infants below) 3) **THERE ARE DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION OF LIFE JACKETS/PFD’s. Be sure to select the right PFD for your child for intended use.** All vests, by law, come with manuals/materials attached to all children/Infant PFD’s that is clear in telling you what each classification’s intended use and safety performance is. (See link below) 4) **READ ALL SAFETY & INSTRUCTIONS that come with the life jacket!** I know! It Should be a no brainer, but so many of us just do not do it& I didn’t either (until now). No wonder there is much confusion, assumptions made, & lack of awareness(my self included!)! Everything is spelled out clearly there. Here I learned that the US Coast Guard urges devices to be tested IMMEDIATELY after purchase on Infants & Children, to check for proper weight distribution, fit, & stable face-up position. ( I don’t believe this is super clear and well known by consumers that you NEED to do this with every Infant/Child vest every season.) Otherwise without the proper weight distribution the device could not work as intended or worse, flip child face-down, which is what happened to my son. (See photos of safety instructions in comments) 5) ** IMPROPER WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION to the life jacket** is the reason this vest flipped my son, and for no other reason. It was NOT because the design was flawed, or because he was conscious/slightly moving around. Thus why USCG urges consumers to test! We ended up testing another vest on my son, and it worked AS IT SHOULD, keeping him face-up, even when he was kicking his legs. We finally found the proper weight distribution vest for him-yea! 6) **PUDDLE JUMPERS are Type 3: Flotation Aids**. Type 3 flotations aids ARE NOT intended for survival or designed to turn your child face-up into the water like the Type 1 & type 2. Their intended use is to provide support to children who have some swimming skills & ability to keep face out of water. 7) It can get real confusing the differences between ambiguous or misleading wording on non-Us Coast Guard certified materials or websites when if comes to education on Life Jacket Safety. Not helpful for us consumers trying to make the most responsible decision for our child when it comes to water safety. Super frustrating **ADDRESSING THE LIFE JACKET vs. PFD/Buoyancy Aid debate** a. This particular Life vest my son is wearing is a Stolhquist Nemo Infant LIFE JACKET. Written on the Care and Use instructions that came from the company. It is USCG: Type 2(Near Shore Buoyant VEST). Not to be confused with a buoyancy AID, or flotation aid(Type 3 classification). b. PFD is used interchangeably on all US Coast Guard certified materials that came (by law) with my Infant and Child Life jackets as well us US Coast Guard websites/articles, and does not indicate or mean something less safe to a Life Jacket. c. Buoyancy Vest/PFD/Life Jacket is a Type 2 classification & designed to turn some victims face-up. A Buoyancy AID or Flotation AID is a type 3 classification, and not intended to turn a child-face up in water. d. Type 1 classification (top classification for saving victims) does not come in infant sizes, and only comes with a guarantee that it will turn MOST victims face-up in an emergency. (Most of us do not know that). BOTTOM LINE: TEST YOUR INFANT/CHILD VEST, EVERY SEASON, ON EVERY INDIVIDUAL INFANT/CHILD FOR PROPER WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION (Assuming you your child fits in the proper weight restrictions and fit properly. This must be checked first before testing). This is the only way to best know that the Life jacket WILL do what it is intended to do, for your specific child, at their specific height/weight, for that specific vest & classification performance & uses. No one USCG certified vest is perfect or necessarily inferior. *Personal update!* we found a vest that was the proper weight distribution for my son to keep him FACE-UP(even when kicking his legs at first)! See video in comments (#145) below. LINKS: ~See link for USCG classifications, intendted use and performance of Life Vests: http://www.uscgboating.org//life-jacket-wear-wearing-your- ~Vest recommended by USCG when asked which class to use for infants(which was correct class and intended use for my son according to USCG): https://newcontent.westmarine.com//USCG%20about%20life%20j

Even though this incident took place in the US, it should serve as a reminder on all the different requirements stated in our Health Regulations 1) the need for lifeguard supervisions in and around aquatic environment 2) Emergency Stops (the ability to stop filtration) can be critical 3) Pool Fitting (drain checks) every 28-days AND the documentation to support the evident... 4) Underwater Rescue Breathes can be life-saving! Lessons Learned! https://globalnews.ca//4/boy-rescued-underwater-8-minutes/

So happy to share this information! Please share with your staff and co-worker, neighbours, friends, families. So much more to do and much to learn!

http://www.cbc.ca//drone-rescue-swimmers-australia-1.44926

We have come a long way since 1767!

Dr Francesco Pia challenges us to examine the level of preparedness for the on deck lifeguards. Often time, we focus on the rescue response or how the ememgency action plan is carried out. What about the mental preparedness? Do lifeguards know what to expect psychological and physiologically when they are going through a real life rescue? HOW can we prepare ourselves for this? (Picture courtesy of Amy Lowe)

80 heros! Incredible! http://www.cbc.ca//human-chain-saves-family-in-water-1.419

Brock University is hosting... LSS Emergency First Aid/CPR-B Sunday April 24 8:30-5:00pm... Brock Student - $58, Community - $63 Register at brocku.ca/aquatics or call 905-688-5550, ext 4060

The Boys & Girls Club of Niagara is hosting... LSS National Lifeguard Recert Sunday May 1 8:30-5:30pm... $84 To register, please call 905-357-2444, ext 220 http://www.boysandgirlsclubniagara.org/

The Boys & Girls Club of Niagara is hosting... LSS National Lifeguard Friday April 15 6-10pm... Saturday April 16 8:30-5:30pm Sunday April 17 8:30-5:30pm Friday April 29 6-10pm Saturday April 30 8:30-5:30pm Sunday May 1 8:30-5:30pm $260 To register, please call 905-357-2444, ext 220 http://www.boysandgirlsclubniagara.org/

http://www.cbc.ca//lifesaving-society-honours-ahousaht-res