AHS shares water health and safety tips

Aug 8, 2024 | 11:51 AM

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is providing the following safety tips in an effort to help residents avoid serious injury and illness while enjoying recreational water activities through the rest of summer.

AHS reminds you there is always a risk of injury when swimming, especially in unmonitored bodies of water. To prevent water-related injuries and illness:

Wear a proper fitting Canadian-approved life-jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) in a boat, kayak, canoe or other water sports and make sure it fits.
Make sure young children wear life-jackets when they are in, on, or around the water and be aware of fast-moving water. Stay right beside your child.
Swim with others when there is no lifeguard present.
Avoid alcohol, cannabis and any other substance that may affect your judgment before and during water activities.

Lakes, rivers and streams may contain illness-causing microorganisms, as AHS notes:

Check for recreational water advisories or look for posted advisory signs at public beaches. Not all beaches are monitored for biological, chemical, and physical hazards.
Do not swim or wade and keep pets out of water in areas where cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms are visible.
Never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any lake or reservoir, at any time. Water-borne organisms, including fecal bacteria, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

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Shower and dry yourself off with a towel as soon as you leave the water.
Stay away from swimming in areas that have weeds. Do not wade or swim in those areas.

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by rdnewsNOW Staff

AHS shares water health and safety tips

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