Unsupervised swimming by seniors aged 65 and over has been the leading cause of drowning deaths in residential pools over the past four years in Quebec.
According to Le Journal, nearly 60 per cent of the 70 drowning deaths in private swimming pools in the province were seniors.
In most cases, they were left alone in the pool or near it to when they became unwell. Others were in the pool at their accommodation centre or condo building at the time of the incident. The vast majority were women.
Fatal illnesses that can occur before drownings could be heart attacks, strokes, acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolisms causing weakness, and more.
Although swimming alone is not allowed at most seniors’ residences in Quebec, some coroners have made recommendations to improve the safety for residents including constant surveillance at the pool and automated external defibrillators.
According to the Quebec Lifesaving Society, one in two drowning deaths is attributable to swimming alone, regardless of age and body of water.
Experts say the best advice is not to swim alone.
A similar report from Le Journal published Monday found that 25 out of the 70 drowning deaths in Quebec residential pools were young children under the age of five.