Water Safety

Please review our safety tips below to learn how to keep you and your family safe around water. Safety is a top priority for the City of Welland.

Know your zones

Know your rescue stations

Summer safety

Swim with a buddy

Never swim alone
As a swim buddy you’re responsible for:
- Calling for help in an emergency
- Keeping an eye out for each other

When and where to swim

Be aware of one’s swimming abilities
Let someone know where you are going and when you should be back

Within arm’s reach

If you aren’t within arm’s reach, you’ve gone too far

Backyard pool safety tips

Appoint an adult to actively supervise any children at the pool at all times.
Keep children under five within arm’s 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 Lifesaving Society's Backyard Pool Safety Inspections guidelines with the Backyard Pool Checklist.

Wear a life jacket

Always wear a properly fitting life jacket when on or near water. Even if you are a strong swimmer, a life jacket can save your life in an accident.

Check the weather

Check the weather forecast before going out on the water. If there are high winds, lightning, or other dangerous conditions, it is best to stay on land.

Learn to swim

If you are spending time in the water, it is essential to know how to swim. Take swimming lessons if necessary. Visit the Aquatics and Swimming Lessons web page for all swimming lessons information.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

Never go swimming or operate a watercraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Be aware of your surroundings

Always be mindful of other swimmers and obstacles in the water.

Follow the rules of the waterway

Follow the posted signs and the laws of the waterway. These rules are in place to keep everyone safe.

Boat safety

Everyone must wear a PFD when on a boat
Ensure your boat has all the safety equipment that is needed
Make sure that the boat driver has their motorized pleasure craft operator card
Do not drive under the influence

Winter safety

Ice rescue

Quickly assess the situation
Call for help and tell someone to call EMS/911
It is always safest to perform the rescue from land
Identify items that can be used as a throwing or reaching aid
Remember the importance of anchoring yourself on shore before attempting to rescue guide/talk to the person who needs help through a self-rescue

When and where to go on ice

Ice should always be checked by a trained adult
Adult supervision and a buddy are always necessary on the ice
Ice on open water can never be considered completely safe
Ice thickness for various activities (ice-safety zones) and always identify at least three items for safety around the ice (e.g., rope, warm clothes, whistle)
- 15 cm for partners
- 20 cm for small groups
- 25 cm for snowmobiles

Falling through ice

Don't panic - the clothes you're wearing will trap air and keep you buoyant.
Turn toward the direction you came from and place your hands and arms on the unbroken surface.
Kick your feet and try to push yourself forward on top of the unbroken ice on your stomach like a seal.
Once you are lying on the ice, don't stand up. Roll away from the break until you're on solid ice.

Staying warm

If you are planning to spend time in cold water, wear proper clothing such as a wetsuit, dry suit or thermal layers to keep yourself warm.

Stay alive, stay ice smart

Keep away from unfamiliar paths or unknown ice.
Avoid travelling on ice at night.
Avoid slushy ice.
Never go on the ice alone.
Before you leave shore, inform someone of your destination and expected time of return.

1-10-1 principle

1 minute to get your breathing under control.
10 minutes of meaningful movement.
1 hour before you become unconscious due to hypothermia.

Ice myths and cold realities

Myth: Waterlogged clothing pulls you down in the water and makes you drown.

Reality: Actually, air trapped in your clothing will help keep you afloat temporarily. Once the clothes are soaked with water, they will be heavier, making moving and swimming more difficult.

Myth: The better you swim the better your chances of rescuing yourself if you fall through the ice.

Reality: Swimming proficiency plays only a small part in ice-related rescues. After as little as five minutes, cold water begins to rob you of your ability to move your limbs. This makes it very difficult for you to get out of the water, no matter what your swimming ability.

Myth: Snow on a frozen lake or river makes the ice surface stronger.

Reality: Snow acts as an insulating blanket, actually hindering ice formation and growth.

Myth: If the weather has been cold, the ice must be solid and safe.

Reality: Other factors that are largely independent of air temperature (e.g., wind, a layer of snow on the ice, currents and fluctuating water levels) can weaken ice and make it unable to bear weight. A sudden drop in air temperature, which is actually more dangerous than a sudden rise, can create cracks in the ice.

Myth: Thick ice is stronger than thin ice.

Reality: Even thick ice may be weak if it is "rotten" or contains layers of water. Rotten ice has frozen and thawed repeatedly, making it potentially fragile even when it appears solid.

Year-round safety

Cold water

HELP – Heat Escape Lessing Position
It is important to keep the head and neck out the water and get out of the water as soon as possible

Stop and ask for help

Recognize when someone is in danger
Call for help
Do not enter the water

Contacting Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services – EMS
When calling EMS:
- Listen carefully
- Answer questions slowly
- Hang up last
- Know your surroundings and explain to EMS where you are
- The more information you can give EMS the better

Self-safety

Is being aware of, recognizing, and knowing how to avoid dangerous situations
Know how far you can safely swim a distance and be able to return safely
Be aware of other swimmers and respect them

Where am I

Understand and be aware of your environment
Identify shallow and deep water
Point out what is safe and unsafe in the environment
Before entering the water, check that the water is clear
Check below and ahead for hazards or other people that might be in the way

Know your zones

Zone 1

Park-like setting, trail, and vehicular access, public parking, amenities such as shelters, changerooms/bathrooms, public access, dock availability, and designated swimming area.

Zone 2

Access to water, grass cut, picnic tables or benches, trails on recreational canal banks, and sports training and competition dock available, training and competition swimming occurring.

Zone 3

Extensive shrubbery, rocky shoreline, steep embankments, no swimming occurring.

Resources

Recreational Canal Safety Plan

Lifejacket loaner program

A lifejacket loaner program is a program that provides free loaner lifejackets to individuals or groups who may need them for water activities. Lifejacket loaner programs are a great way to promote water safety and help prevent drownings. By making lifejackets available to everyone, regardless of their ability to purchase their own, these programs ensure that more people can enjoy water activities while staying safe.

This program can be found at Rec Rentals @ the Docks during operating hours.

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