The Lifesaving Society encourages all backyard pool owners to fence in their pools on all four sides and to ensure the pool gate is securely fastened, self-closing, and can be locked when the pool is not in use.
The recommendation for latched access from the house may seem excessive; however, safety experts, including the Lifesaving Society, strongly believe it is especially necessary to protect toddlers, even those who are just visiting, from inadvertently accessing a backyard pool when the door is left unlocked or open.
In May 2008, Toronto City Council revised a bylaw to require all new in-ground pools to be enclosed by a permanent four-sided fence; or, where the wall of a building forms part of the swimming pool entrance, the use of a self-closing and self-latching door is an alternative to a fourth fence. Most North American municipalities require only a three-sided fence (with the fourth side being the house).
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.