It’s been nearly 130 years since the first bronze medallion course was offered in Canada.
Introduced at Upper Canada College in 1896, the certification was envisioned as the first step towards preventing drowning all throughout the country, whether in lakes, swimming pools or the ocean. It led to the creation of what is now called the Lifesaving Society in 1904.
According to its statistics, despite over a century of education, there are still approximately 460 drownings in Canada per year.
That makes it one of the leading causes of accidental death, with children under the age of nine making up a disproportionate number of those affected.
In 2024, two people in the Howe Sound area died of drowning, according to the BC Coroners Service.
In recognition of National Drowning Prevention Week, the BC Coroners Service has released a report in hopes of urging B.C. residents to practice water safety awareness this summer. It notes that there were 98 accidental drowning deaths in B.C. in 2024, with 52 of these deaths recorded from June to September.
"This report, which covers 10 years, highlights that accidental drowning deaths continue to see an unfortunate upward trend during our warm summer months," said Dr. Jatinder Baidwan, chief coroner of the BC Coroners Service, in a news release.
"It is our hope that by providing regular information and details about how these deaths occur, we can help British Columbians make safer choices while enjoying water-related activities."
Here are five tips, primarily from the Lifesaving Society, on how to keep your children safe in any aquatic environment this summer.
#1. Drain bathtubs and outdoor pools when they’re not in use
It only takes an inch.
You may think the standing water left behind after a bath or playtime in a pool outside is no big deal. But if it’s deep enough to cover your child’s mouth and nose, then it’s deep enough to kill them — and many of these preventable deaths happen when you’re only looking away for a minute.
It only takes a moment to pull the plug or to overturn the pool in your yard, to neutralize this hazard. Children under 5 are the most at risk for drowning, and they’re magnetically drawn to water, even if it’s just a puddle.
#2. Designate a lifeguard to supervise at all times
Just because you’re not at a public pool doesn’t mean your kids don’t need to be watched.
Ideally, you should have an adult with a Bronze Medallion certification or higher, meaning they know how to recognize danger and deliver CPR, watching whenever your kids are in an aquatic environment. They need to be able to respond quickly and effectively if something goes wrong.
If you are acting as a lifeguard and need to leave, you must designate someone to take your place or close down the activity and escort the children from the water.
#3. Stay within arm’s reach of children under 7
If you can’t grab them, you can’t help them.
Many public pools require that children under 7 be within arm’s reach of an adult, and this is a good rule to use everywhere else. It only takes one strong wave, or an unexpected current, to sweep them into a dangerous situation.
#4. Use lifejackets, and don’t forget the groin strap
Lifejackets are often the difference between life and death, as they keep your child’s face out of the water when they’re unaccompanied and adrift. Getting them comfortable and acquainted with lifejackets is key, as they’re designed to position the child on their back when they’re not actively swimming — which can be disconcerting at first.
When choosing a lifejacket, make sure that it is snug around the torso. Most lifejackets have at least one strap around the middle, and sometimes multiple, that you can cinch tight to make sure your child is firmly embraced. Once you’ve pulled them tight, you can loop back the loose ends and tuck them back into the jacket.
Using the groin strap is a great fail safe, because if the lifejacket is baggy or poorly fitted it will help keep the lifejacket in place and stop it from slipping over their heads. It may be uncomfortable and they may complain, but it’s a crucial part of the overall design.
#5. Accompany your kids on their adventures
Your child may be adventurous and independent, but it’s always best to have a parent along for a ride. No matter how safe you deem a water feature to be, it’s always safer if the parent is enjoying the water right alongside their little one — whether that means fooling around in a kiddie pool with a pool noodle, riding the current of a river or collecting rocks along the ocean shoreline.
Remember: if you’re not within arm’s reach, you’ve gone too far.
See the BC Coroners Service Accidental Drowning Deaths Report 2014-2024.
Learn more tips on being safe around water.
