Keeping our Youngest Swimmers Safe Through the Test. Mark. Protect. Program.
The YMCA Calgary Aquatics team is committed to providing positive, fun, and safe swimming experiences for everyone. To protect our youngest swimmers, we have implemented the Test. Mark. Protect (TMP) program at all YMCA aquatic centres.
The TMP program is a vital drowning prevention measure requiring all children ages 13 years and younger to participate in a swimming skills assessment. After the brief assessment, each child is provided with a coloured wristband based on age and swimming ability to wear for the rest of the time in the pool that day.
“It is a fact that the majority of drowning incidents for children under 8 occur when they are unsupervised and in depths of 1.2 meters or less. TMP allows lifeguards to identify these vulnerable children with a red wrist band, while also educating the public on important rules in place to keep children safe and focussed on fun,” says Steve Elliot, General Manager of Aquatics.
According to the Red Cross, drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for Canadian children ages one to four. For every death, there are approximately 4 -5 near death incidents that result in hospitalization and often result in brain damage. It can also happen in seconds and in water only centimetres deep.
“This is a vital program here at the Y. In 2022, the YMCA Calgary Aquatics team handed out approximately 500,000 wrist bands, allowing our Lifeguards the visual aid to ensure all swimmers are in the appropriate leisure areas and have life jackets, if needed,” says Elliot.
To learn more about our Test. Mark. Protect. Program, please watch the video below.
You can also learn about additional drowning prevention here: