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Emergency Prepareness & Response
Mahogany Lake is an open, unsupervised waterfront, meaning there are no lifeguards on duty. To support safety on and around the lake, the MHOA maintains clear emergency plans, trained staff, and readily available safety equipment.
Emergency Response Plan (ERP)
The MHOA maintains a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan (ERP) that guides staff actions during any emergency on or around the lake. Staff follow these procedures step-by-step to ensure a coordinated, calm response.
- The ERP is available at 10+ staff workstations across the beach, park, and facility areas.
- It includes clear procedures for: missing persons, distressed swimmers, water evacuations, medical emergencies, environmental or weather-related hazards, and more.
If emergency services are present, management of the situation transfers from the MHOA to EMS immediately upon their arrival. Staff will continue to support EMS as they are directed.
- Beach Hosts and Camp Counsellors complete Lifesaving Society (LSS) Beach Attendant certification
- All staff are certified in Intermediate First Aid/CPR
- Staff participate in scenario-based training each season
- Annual multi-agency drills with EMS, Fire, and LSS
This training ensure staff know when to act, how to escalate a situation, and when to transfer responsibility to EMS.
Emergency Equipment Available to the Public
Emergency tools are placed throughout the lake and beach areas and are available for public use. All equipment is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure it is ready when needed.
Available equipment includes:
- AEDs at Main Beach and West Beach
- Public Access Life Rings (PALs)
- Reaching poles and throw bags
- Emergency phones at beach kiosks
Your Role in an Emergency
If an emergency occurs at Mahogany Lake, your safety is priority.
- If staff ask you to evacuate or move away from an area, please follow all instructions immediately
- Do not put yourself in danger or attempt a rescue, there could be unknown or invisible hazards
- MHOA staff are trained in emergency response procedure and will coordinate the response until/if EMS arrive
For everyone’s safety, please do not enter the water or restricted areas during an emergency response, as this can put you at risk and interfere with trained responders managing the situation.
More Water Safety to Explore:
- Swim Distance Buoy System [click to view page]
- Swim Lessons & Programs [click to view page]
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) [click to view page]
- External Resources [click to view page]
