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summer fun

And Have a Splashin, Good Time

By: Erin McCarty

Be Water Smart

he Lifesaving Society would like to see you get caught wearing your lifejacket to buy yourself some time if you end up in the water. Most of the people who die in boating incidents drown within a few feet of safety. Our most recent statistics from 2008 show that of those who drowned, many had a lifejacket or PFD close at hand but were not wearing it when they died (42 per cent of Albertans and 100 per cent of people from the Northwest Territories).

Enrolling your children in Swim for Life and Swim to Survive programs at an appropriate age will teach them swim survival skills they need to stay safe around the water. Follow the Societys top ten Water Smart tips to stay safe and have fun this summer: 1 Always swim with a buddy and be each others lifeguard. Friends and family can challenge poor risk choices or help rescue each other. Forty-seven per cent of drowning victims were alone. 2 If you are not Within Arms Reach, youve gone too far. Always closely supervise young children. Be your childs lifeguard. 3 Alcohol and aquatic activities dont mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment and ability to self rescue. Wait until you are finished your aquatic activities for the day and will not be going back in the water or out on your boat. 4 Swim at a marked swimming beach. Go to a marked swimming area and keep within the boundaries. Non swimmers should wear a lifejacket or PFD (personal flotation device) in the water. Floating toys require close supervision. Also beware of special hazards such as currents and offshore winds that can quickly carry toys and swimmers outside the swimming area.

Teaching your child to be Water Smart is the first step to ensure they have a safe experience around the water. Children relate to water in terms of fun experiences. They need to understand that even fun experiences require rules and safety equipment, says Barbara Kusyanto, Chief Administrative Officer at the Lifesaving Society Alberta and Northwest Territories. When you put them on their bike, their helmet goes on. If theyre around the water, they need to be wearing a lifejacket. You have to model these Water Smart principles to them. Statistics from 2008 also reveal that eight of the total 44 Alberta drowning incidents occurred in dugouts or reservoirs. These incidents accounted for 18 per cent of all 2008 drowning incidents. Supervision of children, at any age, while they are around the water is vital to their safety.

5 Choose a facility with a lifeguard. Less than one per cent of drowning incidents occur at facilities with NLS trained and certified lifeguards. Lifeguards are injury prevention experts. They help provide safe, fun environments where you can enjoy the water. 6 Do not tempt moving water. Do not enter moving water to swim. Stay away from the river edge especially if the river bank has a steep slope. One missed step can result in a quick slide into the water. If you get caught in the current, do not fight it. Aim slightly down stream and swim across the current to shore. Wait until you can crawl onto shore to stand up. 7 Choose It. Use It. - Wear your PFD and insist that everyone in your boat wear one. Wearing a PFD while boating is a Water Smart choice that can help protect against hypothermia and help the boater rescue himself during an incident such as falling overboard. Dont forget weather specific gear such as sunscreen, sunglasses and Get caught wearing your lifejacket this summer, be Water Smart and have fun!

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Help is Just a Phone Call Away!

8 Swim to Survive. Enrolling your children in programs like this will teach them the swim self-rescue skills they need. These skills include: the ability to roll into the water and recover after an unexpected fall; the ability to tread water for one minute and support their head above water; and the ability to swim 50 m, so they are able to swim to safety. 9 Drive your boat responsibly and follow the rules of the road. Kayaking, canoeing, and power boating can be fun but also dangerous. Keep low to avoid capsizing or falling overboard. Be courteous to others using the waterways and obey all boating rules. It is now law in Alberta to have a Pleasure Craft Operator (PCO) Card when operating motor-powered water crafts. The Lifesaving Society BOAT (Boat Operator Accredited Training) course teaches safe boating practices including the rules of the road, safety equipment requirements and safe operating skills. 10 Know before you go! Check the weather and create a simple safety checklist. Avoid storm conditions and get off the water if you spot a storm coming one third of dead boaters did not. Create a simple safety checklist which includes checking the weather, checking safety equipment, your route and water conditions, tools and fuel, and boat condition. Tell someone where you are going and when to expect you back. The Lifesaving Society, Canadas lifeguarding experts, is a national charity working to prevent drowning and water-related injury. We save lives and prevent injury through our training programs, Water Smart public education, water incident research, aquatic safety management, and lifesaving sport. For more information about the Lifesaving Society, visit our website at www.lifesaving.org.
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summer fun

AADAC Help Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-866-332-2322 Alberta Mental Health Board, Edmonton Mental Health Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-427-4444 Capital Health Link: 24-hour information and advice on all health related concerns including illness, prenatal, and postpartum questions and concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-408-LINK (5465) Capital Health Community Sector (Public Health Centres general inquiries) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780-413-7900 Child Abuse Hotline (24 hours) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-387-KIDS (5437) Child & Family Services Authority (Child Welfare) . . . . . . . 780-422-2001 City of Edmonton Community Services Assessment & Short-term Counselling We can help with such concerns as: Daily life stresses, issues with dating, marital or partner relationships, problems with family parenting challenges, abuse or violence in the family. 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Warehouse Help
Looking to get back into the workforce? Enjoy your summers off and come be a part of a team that focuses on balance and understands your life outside of work! Scholastic Canada Ltd., the leading childrens book publisher in Canada, is currently seeking full-time and part-time Warehouse Clerks for the Edmonton Book Fair branch. We are seeking energetic individuals who will be responsible for the picking and packaging of book fair orders in a timely and efficient manner. Duties include preparing orders for shipping, controlling inventory, unloading and shelving stock and pricing, as well as some housekeeping duties. Moderate to heavy lifting is required between 20-35 lbs. The ideal candidate has three years of high school education along with six months of previous work experience. Attention to detail and the ability to be a team player are also requirements of this position. Applicants must be able to work a minimum of 15 hours per week. Interested applicants are to forward a copy of their resume, to: Scholastic Book Fairs, Scholastic Canada Ltd., 5530-48 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2Z1 Fax: 780-466-3940 E-mail: resumes@scholastic.ca
We wish to thank all candidates for their applications in advance and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls or agencies please.

www.scholastic.ca