Barrie Rec Guide, Spring/Summer 2020

PRACTICE YOUR WATER SAFETY
Enjoy a relaxing day at one of Barrie’s beautiful waterfront
beaches. Take your family to Centennial Beach and keep
everyone entertained with the large children’s playground,
beach volleyball courts, and large sandy beach or venture a
little further down the shoreline and enjoy a quieter day at
Johnson’s Beach or Minet’s Point.
Ensuring that our beaches and recreational pools can
be maintained safely for all to enjoy, several rules have
been established:
SWIMMING SAFETY TIPS – OPEN WATER
• Actively supervise children around water, even if they
can swim.
• Never underestimate the power of current. Swimmers
or waders can be swept away in an instant, particularly if
non-swimmers or weak swimmers get caught by current
in rivers or out of their depth in abrupt drop-offs.
• Be cautious about swimming in currents, and know what
to do if you’re caught in one.
• Swim with a buddy. Buddies can help each other or go for
help in case of an emergency.
• Avoid diving unless you’re properly trained and certain
that the water is deep enough.
• Get trained. Learning some life-saving skills, such as CPR
and rescue techniques, can help you save a life.
• Swim with a buddy. Buddies can help each other or go for
help in case of an emergency.
• Ensure you have emergency equipment including a first aid kit
and a phone in the immediate pool area.
• Keep pool chemicals, pest control substances and
cleaners out of reach of children.
• Avoid diving in home pools; always enter the water
feet first.
WEAR A PERSONAL FLOATATION
DEVICE
The City of Barrie is proud to be partnering with the
Canadian Red Cross for the PFD Loan Service. This service
allows visitors the opportunity to access PFDs on a one
day loan while at Centennial Beach and is available 7 days
a week through the Lifeguard Office from 11:30am to
5:30pm.
Users will be required to sign a waiver stating they will
use the PFD in accordance with the instructions provided.
The user is responsible to properly care for the PFD and is
required to replace it if it’s returned in a damaged state.
A $10 refundable deposit is required.
For more info please visit barrie.ca/beaches.
SWIMMING SAFETY TIPS – BACKYARD
POOLS
• Actively supervise children around water, even if they
can swim.
• Establish pool rules and enforce them with both adults
and children.
• Ensure adequate barriers are in place such as four-sided
fencing along with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
• Empty portable toddler pools after each use.
• When not using your home pool, clear all toys out of the
water and away from the edge. These can often tempt
children to the water’s edge.
134 / SPRING-SUMMER 2020 / PLAY.BARRIE.CA