Lifesavers highlight training during Drowning Prevention Week

An average of 500 drowning deaths occur in Canada every year with the majority happening midsummer.

Scott McTaggart, a flight paramedic with STARS Air Ambulance, said he would obviously like it if his team were idle this season.

“Typically every summer our call volume goes up with water related injuries or illnesses and it’s just because people are out more, people are in the water more, there’s nicer weather, so stuff just gets really busy for us in the summer time,” McTaggart said.

Paramedics teamed up with lifeguards at the STARS hangar in northeast Calgary Tuesday to demonstrate the importance of training in CPR and other life-saving techniques.

The awareness effort was in lieu of National Drowning Prevention Week.

McTaggart said life jackets are a must on the water, kids should be kept within arm’s reach, people should avoid swimming alone or intoxicated and he encouraged everyone to get CPR training.

There are several ways find CPR courses in the Calgary area including training at SAIT Polytechnic, Alberta Health and Safety Training Institute and the Canadian Red Cross.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today