National Drowning Prevention Week is July 21 - 27 2019

The Lifesaving Society designates the third week in July as National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW) to focus community and media attention on the drowning problem and drowning prevention.

NDPW provides a focus around which community Water Smart® educators can plan news releases, do television and radio interviews, run public demonstrations, deliver public training events, and otherwise promote drowning prevention messages and events. Please contact the Society for support.

The themes outlined in the Social Media Plan are suggestions for how you can target your NDPW campaign to use specific messages targeted to address trends seen in Lifesaving Society drowning reports and the data from the Drowning Prevention Research Centre. The key messages can be used on social media to promote safe behaviors while in, on and around water. Please be sure to include the #NDPW2019 hashtag in the posts.

MAIN MESSAGES TO EMPHASIZE

The main messages below were selected because of the major risk factors presented in the Canadian Drowning Report - 2018 Edition (Note: the 2019 Edition of the Canadian Drowning Report will be released this summer).

  • Drowning is preventable. Approximately 500 Canadians die in preventable water-related       incidents annually. Even one drowning is one too many.
  • Watch me, not your phone. Always actively supervise children around the water - if you're not within arms' reach, you've gone too far.
  • Be Boat Smart - Wear a Lifejacket. Choose It. Use It. Always wear a lifejacket when in a boat.
  • Learn to Swim to Survive. In most drownings, the victim never intended to go in the water and was often close to safety - could you survive a sudden and unexpected fall into the water?
  • Swim with a buddy. Make smart choices before going into or out on the water.
  • Know your limits. Alcohol consumption is a factor in almost 40% of boating-related fatalities. Both alcohol and cannabis use impairs judgement, reflexes and balance. Stay sober when in, on or around the water.
  • Be Water Smart all year round. You can save a life - yours and someone else's. Take a learn-to-swim, lifesaving or first aid class today.

If you have any questions or require Water Smart® Materials to support National Drowning Prevention Week please contact the Lifesaving Society at (780) 415-1755 or email experts@lifesaving.org.