Drowning can happen quickly and silently. In Québec, it remains the leading cause of injury-related death among children aged 1 to 4. Most incidents involving young children occur in a family pool or at the home of someone they know, often during a brief lapse in direct adult supervision.
Active and continuous supervision
- Clearly designate one adult as the water watcher. This person should keep the child in sight, remain close and avoid phones, prolonged conversations and other distractions.
- Stay within immediate reach of toddlers and children who are weak swimmers. If the responsible adult must leave, the child should leave the water or supervision should be clearly transferred to another adult.
- Swimming ability and lessons reduce risk but never replace adult supervision. Inflatable toys and swimming aids are not lifesaving devices.
Control access to the pool
- Pools must be protected by a compliant enclosure when required by Québec regulations. Gates should close and latch automatically. Check gates, latches, fences and access points regularly.
- Keep furniture, equipment and other climbable objects away from the pool. Remove floating toys after swimming so that children are not tempted to reach for them.
- Requirements depend on the type of installation. Pool owners should confirm compliance with their municipality.
Remember every water environment
- A child can drown in very little water. Empty wading pools, bathtubs, buckets and containers immediately after use.
- Near lakes and rivers or aboard a boat, children should wear a properly fitted and fastened lifejacket. A flotation device does not replace supervision.
- Caregivers should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and keep a phone and rescue equipment nearby.
What should you do in an emergency?
- Remove the child from the water without placing yourself at risk, call 9-1-1 immediately and begin CPR if the child is not breathing normally. Use an automated external defibrillator if available and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
- After a submersion, breathing difficulty, persistent coughing, unusual drowsiness or a change in behaviour requires urgent medical assessment.
At Bina Clinic, we emphasize that no single measure is enough. Supervision, controlled access, swimming skills, lifejackets and emergency preparedness work best together.
Official sources
- INSPQ — Prévenir les noyades chez les enfants
- Gouvernement du Québec — Prévenir la noyade
- Gouvernement du Québec — Sécurité des piscines résidentielles
This article provides general information and does not replace a personalized medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
