Dryden city council to look at lifesaving options

Dryden city council has been given several suggestions on how to make waterways and docks safer for swimmers.

This past summer, four people drowned in two separate incidents in Dryden.

Jennifer Millard is a nurse and is a coach with the Dryden Dolphins swim club and suggests more safety equipment is needed in public places.

“First thing I thought of was lifesaving equipment, and I thought, because at least then, sadly, if somebody enters the water, and is drowning, you may prevent a second drowning,” Millard told Dryden city council during her deputation Monday night.

“If you can have some lifesaving equipment there, that they could try to use, so their only option isn’t to jump in and try to save the person who is drowning.”

Millard adds that she is glad to see the city has installed life rings on municipally owned docks.

Millard says in other locations she’s been to in Ontario; there is always lifesaving equipment available at beaches and docks.

“I think the reason that I was most surprised is because growing up in southern Ontario where we have large beaches and lakes…even on the beaches that aren’t any lifeguard patrolled, there is always a lifesaving ring and a shepherd’s hook.”

Dryden city council has also passed its own notice of motion directing city staff to investigate water safety measures that can be implemented on municipally owned waterways.