Ontario municipality offers free water safety programs

by jason_cramp | November 12, 2015 10:01 am

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With the launch of two free water safety courses, the City of Brampton, Ont., is the first municipality in Canada to offer the Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive programming to adults.

The city’s Mayor Linda Jeffrey, along with regional Coun. Michael Palleschi, Barbara Byers from the Lifesaving Society, Brampton Fire’s Technical Rescue Team, and Canadian Olympic swimming medallist Stephen Clarke were all on hand to help launch the new programs.

“This was a very difficult summer due to local water-related tragedies. The City of Brampton identified a need in our community to expand our Swim to Survive program to adults. Brampton is the first municipality in Canada to offer this new programming in partnership with the Lifesaving Society,” says Jeffrey. “I encourage all of our residents to take advantage of the many swimming and water safety courses. Even the most basic water safety and swimming skills can save a life.”

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The Swim to Survive programs can help save a life by teaching the skills it takes to survive a fall into water. Participants roll into the water (to simulate the disorientation of an accidental entry), orient themselves, and tread water briefly, then swim 50 m (164 ft). The program is currently available through participating schools for Grade 3 and 7 children. Beginning in January, the free Swim to Survive program will be available for teens and adults, with more than 70 classes available across the city. For more information, visit www.brampton.ca[3].

On weekends throughout November, the city will also offer free public safety swims where families and individuals are invited to swim for free and learn about water safety. Aquatics staff will be on hand to offer lifejacket fittings and information on Swim to Survive and learn-to-swim programs.

During the launch event, members of the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services (BFES) Technical Rescue Team demonstrated their water safety skills. The BFES team challenged other participants in the Swim to Survive basic skills of ‘roll, tread, and swim.’ Some team members were in street clothes to simulate an unexpected fall into water.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/ontario-municipality-offers-free-water-safety-programs/

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