HAY RIVER (January 21, 2014) – Recommendations to make Hay River Territorial Park beach safer have been released by the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The Lifesaving Society performed a comprehensive aquatic safety audit on the unsupervised waterfront beach at Hay River Territorial Park in the summer of 2013. The purpose of the audit was to analyze and provide recommendations to maximize the safety of beach users.
The report included four priority recommendations, three primary recommendations, and 21 secondary recommendations.
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is currently working on an implementation plan to put safety measures in place for the 2014 parks season that will move the Hay River Territorial Beach up in the Layers of Protection. Further information on Layers of Protection can be found in Appendix C of the Hay River Audit Report and the Fred Henne Audit Report.
Safety recommendations include: add appropriate signage in regards to identification of hazards, the importance of supervising children, location of emergency phone and equipment, rules of use, and safety rules; taking bacteriological water samples of the swim area during the swim season; making equipment such as a reaching pole and a buoyant throwing aid available on the beach in appropriate locations; raising public awareness about the importance of safely enjoying the beach by providing educational materials and information such as the importance of adult supervision; developing an emergency response plan; and training all park staff in basic waterfront and local emergency procedures.
A similar audit was performed on the Fred Henne Territorial Park in the summer of 2013. An implementation plan acting on the recommendations is outlined in the attached Backgrounder. An online survey regarding beach is now available, to help gather feedback about the recommendations made at the Fred Henne Territorial Park beach and regarding beach safety in general: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/beachsafety
“We have been working closely with the Lifesaving Society to improve the safety at the territorial parks beaches. We have learned a lot over the past several months, and we know that by putting these specific safety recommendations in place, we will make the beaches even safer and more fun for families,” said Minister of ITI, David Ramsay. “I am also looking forward to hearing what the public has to say about beach safety, personal responsibility, and what these recommendations and new usage rules mean to them.”
“Creating plans for prevention, response and follow up is a necessary part of responsible risk management. Implementation takes expertise and time,” said Barbara Costache, Chief Administrative Officer Lifesaving Society AB/NWT. “It involves the input and effort of many and extends to the community to build public awareness. We are all in this together.”
The Lifesaving Society – Canada’s lifeguarding expert – is a charitable organization working to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its training programs, Water Smart® public education, water incident research, safety management services and lifesaving sport. Annually, more than 1,000,000 Canadians participate in the Society’s swimming, lifesaving, lifeguard and leadership training courses. The Lifesaving Society represents Canada in the Commonwealth Royal Life Saving Society and is Canada’s Full Member in the ILS. The Society is the governing body for lifesaving sport – a sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
For more information, please contact:
Alayna Ward
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment, Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 920-8696
www.iti.gov.nt.ca
Kelly Carter/Barbara Costache
Lifesaving Society Alberta & Northwest Territories
Tel: (780) 415-1755
www.lifesaving.org
