National Drowning Prevention Week promotes awareness of the drowning prevention problem in Canada and the need for individuals, communities, organizations, and government to take action in an effort to save lives. Drowning is preventable!
Members of the public, community groups, and government are encouraged to promote the following interventions that have been taken from the World Health Organization's publication Preventing Drowning:
The Drowning Problem: Over 400 Canadians die in preventable water-related incidents annually. Even one drowning is too many.
Supervise Children: Always directly supervise children in, on, and around the water - if you are not within arms' reach, you've gone too far.
Boating Safety: Choose it. Use it. Always wear a lifejacket when in a boat.
Learn to Swim: In most drownings, the victims never intended to go in the water at all and were often close to safety - could you survive a sudden and unexpected fall into the water?
Stay Sober In, On, and Around the Water: Alcohol consumption is a factor in many boating and swimming fatalities. Both alcohol and cannabis impair balance, judgement, and reflexes. Stay sober in, on, and around the water.
Open Water Safety: Swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool, as the conditions can change depending on the weather, and areas of open water may have hidden underwater hazards like rocks and logs. Check local conditions, and make sure you know your own limits before going in.
You Can Save a Life: Someone else's, and your own. Take a Learn to Swim, Lifeguarding, or First Aid course today.
For more information on this year's themes and messages, and to download the logo, please see the below documents.
Since the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has passed a resolution declaring July 25 of each year as World Drowning Prevention Day, we have ceased our request for community proclamations for National Drowning Prevention Week.
This does not diminish the importance of raising awareness during National Drowning Prevention Week, but allows us to focus on the UN resolution for World Drowning Prevention Day, which may or may not be contained within National Drowning Prevention Week depending on the year.
Learn more about supporting World Drowning Prevention Day in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
