Backyard Pools

The backyard pool provides the ultimate summer fun for kids, friends and family. But to keep it fun, it's important to know the risks so you can avoid danger - whether you own the pool, or you're just visiting. The single most important way to keep everyone safe is to ensure that young children are always supervised in and around the pool. If you know the risks, you can establish pool rules so everyone can stay safe and have fun.

Backyard pool safety facts:

  • Most common location for children under five drowning.
  • Drowning is fast and silent - not like in the movies. There's no splashing and no screaming.
  • Most backyard pools are too shallow for safe diving.
  • Every municipality has different bylaws for pools and fencing.

Backyard pool safety tips:

  • Appoint an adult to actively supervise any children at the pool at all times - the Lifesaving Society's On Guard card is a handy tool and reminder, with useful tips.
  • Keep children under five within arms' reach in and around the water.
  • Control and restrict access to water - a latching gate and four-sided fencing can prevent accidents and unintended access to the water.
  • Use the Society's Backyard Pool Safety Inspections Guidelines with the Backyard Pool Checklist.

On Guard Card

The Lifesaving Society's On Guard card reminds parents that someone must be watching children near water with focused attention at all times. The On Guard card designates the pool safety supervisor - if you wear the card you're on guard. Buy it now.

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Learn to Swim

Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. The Lifesaving Society offers training programs from learn-to-swim through advanced lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership.

Our Swim for Life program stresses lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate valuable Water Smart® education that will last a lifetime.

Swim to Survive is a Lifesaving Society survival training program. Swim to Survive is not a subsititute for swimming lessons; instead, it defines the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. People of all ages should be able to perform the Society's Swim to Survive standard.