Summer Water Safety

In just one month, school-aged kids will be finishing up at school and getting ready for an exciting summer full of fun activities. While spending time in and around the water is a great way to spend the summer, being aware of the risks and taking safety precautions is always important.

Here are a few tips from the Canadian Red Cross on summer water safety:

• Teach children how to swim
• Ensure an adult is supervising at all times, whether it’s a pool, bathtub, waterpark or beach
• Consider requiring all non-swimmers to wear a lifejacket
• Fence backyard pools and ensure gates are self-latching
• Empty portable pools after each use
• Avoid diving into water head first
• Be cautious about swimming in currents in the ocean or in lakes

If you have a pool in your backyard, it’s your obligation to ensure that it is safe for every single person that steps onto your property. This duty is set out in the Occupiers’ Liability Act. If someone is injured in a swimming accident in your pool, you may be held liable for damages if you haven’t taken the proper precautions to ensure his or her safety.

If you’ve been injured in a swimming or pool accident, contact us online for a free legal consultation or by phone at 1-800-563-6348 to speak directly with one of our lawyers.

 ___

This blog post is presented for information purposes only. The information contained in this post should not be construed as legal advice from Ferguson Barristers or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal advice on any matter. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based on any such content or information without seeking appropriate legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

Please note that we are only able to provide legal advice to clients of Ferguson Barristers. You may contact us about becoming a client. Any unsolicited information sent to Ferguson Barristers may not be protected by attorney-client privilege.