Preventing water fatalities: National Drowning Prevention Week

Lifesaving Society
News Release

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National Drowning Prevention Weeks begins July 15th and the Lifesaving Society is urging all Canadians to join our lifeguards to help prevent water fatalities.

With more than 400 fatalities annually, drowning remains the third leading cause of accidental death among Canadians under 60 years of age. Not surprisingly, over half of these drownings occur during summer months, when
Canadians are taking advantage of the nice weather.

However, the presence of lifeguards and people who are trained in lifesaving programs drastically affect the amount of water fatalities. Less than 2 percent of all drownings occur when there is lifeguard supervision.

"During the year our National Lifeguards play an essential role in keeping Canadians safe while they are out enjoying the water," said Suzanne Gorman, Interim Executive Director of the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization dedicated to drowning prevention and the certifier for all of Canada's lifeguards.

"Canadians should be proud of their National Lifeguards and the level of safety they provide. Unfortunately, trained lifeguards cannot be everywhere so the Lifesaving Society is asking all Canadians to become more involved in drowning prevention."

To help prevent water fatalities this summer, the Lifesaving Society recommends these five water safety tips:

- Make sure everyone in your family can achieve the Canadian Swim to Survive(R) standard.

- Take a lifesaving course and learn how to reduce the risk of drowning, as well as what to do if something does go wrong.

- Keep your children within arm's reach and, whenever possible, chose to swim in a lifeguard supervised area.

- When boating always wear a lifejacket or PFD and leave the alcohol behind.

- Practice safe boating procedures, and get your pleasure craft operator card.

In 2006, the Lifesaving Society reported more than 250,000 Canadians were trained in National Lifesaving Society programs. Please visit us online at
www.lifesaving.ca.

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