It’s National Drowning Prevention Week, and despite a downward trend, drowning is still one of the leading causes of death.
According to the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba, over 450 people fatally drown annually in Canada.
“A lot of people don’t realize that drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death for adults in Canada, and it is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of 12 in the country, which is shocking if you think about that, considering all the other ways people can end up having injuries or dying,” said Dr. Christopher Love, water smart and safety management coordinator for the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba.
This year the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba will focus on water safety for newcomers.
“Unfortunately, here in Manitoba, we’ve had several very high-profile tragic occurrences with deaths and injuries in the newcomer community,” Dr. Love explained. “Many newcomers have not been exposed to water safety concepts before.”
Throughout the week, the Lifesaving Society of Manitoba will educate and promote safety awareness on and around the water.
“We want to celebrate all of these great activities that are going on that are helping raise awareness and create safer opportunities for newcomers.”
To help reduce drowning, all Manitobans are encouraged to:
- Do not go out alone.
- Wear a properly fitted lifejacket when out on a boat.
- Refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages while participating in aquatic activities.
- Make sure to learn how to swim.
- Make sure you have active adult supervision when children are in the water.
National Drowning Prevention Week runs from July 21-27, 2024.