July 21, 2008 Ottawa, ON. - “400+ Drowning Deaths a Year still too many” reports Lifesaving Society on launch of National Drowning Prevention Week.

With more than 400 fatalities annually, drowning remains the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under 60 years of age reports the Lifesaving Society, Canada’s lifeguarding experts. In fact, more than 60% of all drowning deaths in Canada occur during participation in summer-time recreational activities including swimming and fishing or boating, with approximately two-thirds of drownings occurring just 15 meters from safety.

“It is a tragic statistic,” states Nicole Liddell, the Lifesaving Society’s National President-Elect, “but every year, hundreds of Canadians die as the result of drowning; and the truth is, many of these tragedies might have been prevented if people took the time to wear a personal flotation device (PDF) and learned a few basic skills.”

Just this past June, a father and son, Janusz Beilawski, 50, and Thomas Beilawski, 24, drowned tragically in a fishing accident on Slocombe Lake in Huntsville, ON. Janusz jumped into the water to help his son after his canoe had overturned. Huntsville OPP Const. Lynda Cranney reported that neither of the men was wearing life-jackets.

“Swimming is the second most popular year-round recreational activity, and with the sheer number of recreational water ways, beaches and pools available to us, Canadians inherently face an increased risk of drowning,” adds Liddell. The Lifesaving Society’s National Drowning Prevention Week is timed to coincide with the warmest summer weather when many Canadian’s are seeking ways to cool off and beat summer’s heat (July 19 – 27, 2008).

This year, the Society’s messages are aimed at addressing two populations at risk:

Parents of young children

Boaters

National Drowning Prevention Week is an annual, public education and drowning prevention initiative of the Lifesaving Society with the goal of reducing the number of water related fatalities and near drowning incidents through the promotion of key water safe messages, including:

“400+ Drowning Deaths a Year Still Too Many” - Monday July 21, 2008

“Children Among Those at Greatest Risk of Drowning” - Tuesday July 22, 2008

“Alcohol and Water a Potentially Deadly Combination” - Wednesday July 23, 2008

“Lifesaving Society Celebrates 100 Years of Saving Lives” - Thursday July 24, 2008

“Canada Post Releases Stamp Honoring Lifesaving Society” - Friday July 25, 2008

About the Lifesaving Society:

The Lifesaving Society, Canada’s lifeguarding experts for the past 100 years, is a national, volunteer organization and registered charity whose mandate is drowning prevention. The Society’s programs include: Learn to Swim, Lifesaving, Lifesaving Sport, Water Smart®, Public Education, Research, First Aid and Boating. The Lifesaving Society remains the leader in lifeguard training, and in 2008 will provide training and certification to over 500,000 nationally.

Contact:

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