Water Safety
Basic water safety skills are essential. Swimming pools, lakes
and rivers offer year-round fun if they are enjoyed safely. But
every year about 17 people drown in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for
children under five years old, and statistics show that children
under 12, boaters, young men and seniors 65+ are at greatest
risk.
Drowning is fast and silent, but every drowning death
is preventable with water safety knowledge and common sense.
Important water safety tips for everyone:
- Learn to swim
- Always swim with a buddy
- Children and non-swimmers should always be supervised around
water
- Wear a lifejacket whenever you are in a boat
- Alcohol and water don't mix: don't drink and swim, don't drink
and drive your boat
Read more about:
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Water Smart® Campaign
The Lifesaving Society's ongoing public education campaign aims
to make Canadians "Water Smart." The campaign target groups,
messages, and priorities are based on the Society's analysis of its
annual drowning and other relevant research. The Water Smart
Campaign encourages individuals in high-risk target groups to
exercise safe and responsible behaviour in and around water to
prevent water-related injuries. Our Water Smart drowning
prevention campaign is funded through donations, community
fundraising events and sponsorships. If you would like to donate to
the Lifesaving Society, or discuss ways in which you can
contribute, please contact the Society's office.
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Drowning in Canada
In Canada, drowning is the No. 1 cause of unintentional
injury deaths among children 1-4 years of age, and the second
leading cause of preventable death for children under 10
years. With some 500 fatalities annually, drowning is
the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians
under 60 years of age (surpassed only by motor vehicle collisions
and poisoning).
Learn to Swim
Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any
meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. The Lifesaving
Society offers training programs from learn-to-swim through advanced lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership.
Our Swim for
Life program stresses lots of in-water practice to develop
solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate valuable Water
Smart® education that will last a
lifetime.
Swim to
Survive is a Lifesaving Society survival training program. Swim
to Survive is not a subsititute for swimming lessons; instead, it defines the
minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep
water. People of all ages should be able to perform the Society's
Swim to Survive standard.