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In the hot summer months, it is always a treat to enjoy the sun by a pool for refreshing dips in the water. As we welcome hot weather, remember to take some steps to ensure a safe environment poolside for all to enjoy. Make water safety mandatory in any pool adventure: learn to swim, secure your pool and always watch kids closely. Here are simple steps you can follow to secure your pool.

Many Canadians enjoy boating each summer. Unfortunately, the season doesn't end happily for everyone. While the number of boating related fatalities has decreased over the last 10 years, according to Canadian Red Cross statistics, an average of 125 Canadians die each year while boating. As a Director with Canadian Safe Boating Council, I am saddened to see that the vast majority of these fatalities are preventable.

With summer finally here, some of you will certainly be heading out on a boat. Whether you’re in a motorized boat or a canoe, one universal rule applies to all boaters: wearing a lifejacket or a personal flotation device (PFD) can save your life.

Now that I occasionally rent out my cottage, I often get messages from guests who can’t find a switch or get the Apple TV to work. That’s nothing new. But when a woman texted me at 4 a.m. to tell me that the power was out and she couldn’t find the flashlight, I realized that my safety instructions were a little light on detail. Would people know what to do if there was a fire? Did they know where to shut off the water and find the first aid kit?

With spring nearing, many of us winter-worn Canadians are looking forward to warmer temperatures. While spring is in the air, it’s still important to keep ice safety in mind, especially as milder weather affects most ice conditions.

Swimming can provide substantial benefits to individuals with special needs ranging from exercise to fun and social interaction.
Adapted aquatics are modified swimming techniques that accommodate the abilities of individuals with cognitive or physical limitations. The goal is to give people the skills they need for independent swimming and water safety.

A pilot project that would see the installation of underwater cameras in three Edmonton pools is expected to get underway by 2017. Participants at the 7^th annual Alberta Red Cross Water Safety Conference in Edmonton in October learned about the initiative. “We are always striving to improve water safety in Canada,” says Sarah Jackson, Red Cross Water Safety Representative for northern Alberta and NWT. “Conferences like this are a great opportunity to learn from each other.”

Approximately 90 newcomers including Syrian refugees attended the Canadian Red Cross Water Safety Preparedness Picnic last weekend in Stratford, Prince Edward Island. With barbecued food, good company, fun games as well as information on water safety, it was a great day for all who took part in the event held at Pondside Park. Check out these great photos from the day!