CampHostJobsLifejackets
- Most people who drown while boating were not wearing a lifejacket. Wear one in canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and small boats, not just carry one.
- Children and weak swimmers should wear a lifejacket near open water, including on docks and shorelines.
- Choose a lifejacket approved by Transport Canada or the US Coast Guard, sized for the person, and fasten every buckle.
Cold water: the 1-10-1 rule
Lakes and rivers across Canada and the northern US stay cold all summer. Sudden cold water causes gasping and loss of breath control.
- 1 minute to get your breathing under control. Keep your head above water and do not panic.
- 10 minutes of useful movement before your arms and legs stop working. Use it to get out or to a floating object.
- 1 hour before you lose consciousness from hypothermia. A lifejacket keeps you afloat for that time.
Swimming
- Swim at designated beaches where you can. Most campground beaches have no lifeguard.
- Watch children within arm's reach at all times. Drowning is quick and silent.
- Enter unknown water feet first. Rocks, logs and shallow spots are hidden below the surface.
- Rivers have strong currents even when the surface looks calm. Stay away from dams, weirs and spillways.
- Do not swim after drinking alcohol.
If someone is in trouble: reach, throw, don't go
- Shout for help and call 911.
- Reach with a pole, paddle or branch from shore while lying down.
- Throw something that floats: a ring buoy, cooler, lifejacket or throw bag.
- Don't go into the water unless you are trained in water rescue. Many people die trying to save someone.
Blue-green algae and water quality
- Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can make water look like pea soup, paint or scum, often in late summer. Some blooms make toxins that harm people and kill dogs.
- Stay out of the water and keep pets out when a bloom is posted or the water looks unusual. Rinse off after swimming.
- Swimmer's itch, a rash from tiny parasites, is common in shallow, warm lake water. Towel off right after swimming.
Drinking water
- Drink only water the campground marks as potable, or treat it. Clear lake and stream water can carry Giardia, Cryptosporidium and bacteria.
- Boiling at a rolling boil for at least 1 minute makes water safe. Above about 2,000 m (6,500 ft), boil for 3 minutes.
- Filters and chemical treatments work for many germs. Follow the maker's directions.
- Follow any boil-water advisory posted at the campground.
Ice
Early and late in the season, ice on lakes and ponds is unpredictable. Ice near inlets, outlets, docks and moving water is often thin. Stay off ice unless it has been measured and is cleared for use.
If you are the host
- Know where the ring buoy, rescue pole and nearest phone or radio are. Check them weekly.
- Post water advisories, algae warnings and boil-water notices as soon as you get them.
- If the campground runs a water system, you may be asked to record chlorine readings or sample water. Ask for training and do not guess.
- Remind families that the beach has no lifeguard if that is the case.
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General safety information for campground hosts, workers and campers in Canada and the US, compiled by CampHostJobs from Parks Canada, the US National Park Service, provincial, territorial and state agencies, and public health sources, October 2026. It does not replace training or the rules where you are. Always follow your employer, park staff and local officials. In an emergency, call 911.