National Drowning Prevention Week

Township of Russell News7/18/2022 8:30:01 AM

National Drowning Prevention Week is the Lifesaving Society’s annual drowning prevention awareness event. With over 400 Canadians drowning in preventable water-related incidents annually, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under 60+ years of age. Even one drowning is one too many. Reminders:

1. Stay within arm’s reach! Adults should always be within arm’s reach of young children when in or near the water. The majority of drownings in children under 5 years of age is due to a lack of supervision. Lifejackets and other flotation devices are a layer of protection, but do not replace adult supervision.

2. Swim skills need to be taught; they are not innate. Most drowning occur close to safety – can you survive an accidental or unintentional fall into the water? Basic swimming ability is a requirement of any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. Swim to Survive® defines the minimum swim skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water Make sure all family members can learn the 3 skills: roll into deep water, tread water for 1 minute, and swim 50 meters.

3. Lifejackets do not work if you do not wear them. Not wearing a Lifejacket was a factor in most boating deaths. Lifejackets are like seatbelts. They help you if the unexpected happens. Lifejackets are for every age and ability. Even strong swimmers need to wear lifejackets.

4. On average, 70% of all fatal drownings in Canada occur in open water such as lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Know your limits and check local conditions before going in. Many fatal drownings occur when people are swimming alone. Always swim with a buddy!