Emergency vehicles were called to a Saskatoon hotel to rescue a teenage refugee who almost drowned.

Emergency vehicles were called to a Saskatoon hotel to rescue a teenage refugee who almost drowned.
Photo Credit: Victoria Dinh/CBC

Syrian refugee recovering after almost drowning

A 13-year-old Syrian refugee is in hospital recovering after nearly drowning in his hotel pool, reports the public broadcaster CBC. The boy was in serious condition and brought to hospital by ambulance, but now is said to be doing better. the incident occurred in the western city of Saskatoon.

Canada is bringing in thousands of Syrian refugees at a rapid pace, and until housing is found for them, they often stay in hotels. Many Canadian hotels have pools which are not supervised by lifeguards.

Many Canadians take swimming lessons

The assumption is that many Canadians know how to swim and that parents will closely supervise their children. The Lifesaving Society of Canada and the Canadian Red Cross offer learn-to-swim courses across the country. Canada has many lakes and public pools, and swimming and boating are highly popular activities in summer.

Research from the Lifesaving Society of Canada suggests that immigrants and foreign students may not have had the advantage of such courses because they are four times more likely than Canadians to be unable to swim.

Newcomers urged to learn to swim

The society has produced videos in several languages to alert newcomers to Canada about the risks of downing and to explain the value of taking swimming lessons.

In all, about 500 people drown every year in Canada and drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under 60 years old.

Categories: Immigration & Refugees, Society
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