National Drowning Prevention Week
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!
National Drowning Prevention Week occurs every year in mid-July, when Canada's drowning rate is at its highest. This year, NDPW will take place from July 21 - 27, 2024.
This year, National Drowning Prevention Week will include World Drowning Prevention Day, which occurs every year on July 25. To learn more about World Drowning Prevention Day, check out its page on our site!
Interventions To Promote
Each day of National Drowning Prevention Week focuses on different drowning prevention topics. We encourage members of the public, community groups, and our governments to discuss and promote the following topics throughout the week:
July 21 - Fatal Drowning: What does drowning really look like? Unlike the way it's typically portrayed in fiction, with the victim splashing and flailing wildly, drowning tends to be silent, and can occur very quickly.
July 22 - Non-Fatal Drowning: Non-fatal drownings refer to when the victim survives, but requires treatment due to losing consciousness, swallowing water, or having difficulty breathing. According to our 20-Year Drowning Analysis, for every fatal drowning, there are 6 non-fatal drownings.
July 23 - Backyard Pool Safety: While private pools may seem safer than open water or even public pools, they come with hazards of their own - especially for young children.
July 24 - Swim to Survive: 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?
July 25 - Supervise Children: Always directly supervise children in, on, and around the water - if you are not within arms' reach, you've gone too far.
July 26 - Boating Safety: Choose it. Use it. Always wear a lifejacket when in a boat.
July 27 - Alcohol and Substance Use: 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.
