The Town of Hinton is excited to announce that the Lifesaving Society's National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW) will take place from July 21-27, 2024. This week-long event focuses on raising awareness about drowning prevention and promoting water safety.
Each day will feature a specific theme with key messages and activities to help educate and engage our community. We invite you to join us in these important initiatives.
Day 1: Sunday, July 21
Theme: The Drowning Problem
Key Messages:
- NDPW is the Lifesaving Society’s annual drowning prevention awareness event.
- Over 400 Canadians drown 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.
- Drowning tends to be silent and can occur very quickly, unlike the way it’s portrayed in fiction.
- Ages 20-29 are most likely to fatally drown.
- ¾ of all drownings are male (on average).
Activities:
- Demonstrate and educate on the Talk, Throw, Reach rescue technique with patrons (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm with Rachel).
Day 2: Monday, July 22
Theme: Non-Fatal Drownings
Key Messages:
- From 1999 – 2019, there were approximately 158 non-fatal emergency department visits and 24 non-fatal drowning-related hospital admissions.
- On average, for every fatal drowning, there are six non-fatal drownings resulting in an emergency department visit or hospitalization.
- 1 in 4 hospital admissions for non-fatal drownings involved children under 5 years old.
- 45% of all non-fatal drowning hospital admissions involved children under 10 years old.
Activities:
- Demonstrate and educate on what drowning looks like; Drowning non-swimmer, Submerged, Injured (2:00 pm – 3:30 pm with Cassidy).
Day 3: Tuesday, July 23
Theme: Backyard Pool & Open Water Safety
Key Messages:
- Private backyard pools continue to be the primary setting where children 1-4 years of age most often drown.
- Provide on-guard and direct supervision by designating a responsible adult as a 'backyard pool lifeguard'.
- Ensure water toys are stored away after swimming to prevent children from returning to the pool unsupervised.
- Use multiple layers of protection, such as self-closing gates and fences, to ensure your backyard pool is safe and not accessible to children.
Open Water Safety:
- Never swim alone. Always swim with a buddy.
- Choose supervised open water areas when possible.
- Understand that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Know your limits and check local conditions before going in.
- Limit the use of inflatables, as they can obstruct views and float away, taking children or adults further out than intended. Always wear a life jacket on board.
Activities:
- Demonstrate the Ladder approach with the public (6:30 pm – 8:00 pm with Coral).
Day 4: Wednesday, July 24
Theme: Swim to Survive
Key Messages:
- Swimming skills need to be taught; they are not innate. Most drownings occur close to safety – can you survive an accidental or unintentional fall into the water?
- Swim to Survive is different from swimming lessons and is not a replacement for them. It teaches the necessary skills to survive an unexpected fall into deep water.
- Meeting the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard is an important first step to being safe around water.
- Basic swimming ability is a requirement of any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada.
- Everyone deserves to learn to swim survival skills.
- Ensure all family members can learn the three skills: roll into deep water, Tread water for one minute, and Swim 50 meters.
Activities:
- Lifeguards will watch patrons perform their Swim to Survive skills and then give them a certificate. Different variations will be available for different ages (2:00 pm – 3:30 pm with Abby and Sara).
Day 5: Thursday, July 25
Theme: Supervising Children In, On, and Around Water
Key Messages:
- Children 7 years and younger need to be “within arms reach” of an actively engaged supervisor.
- How to be a water-smart parent:
- Know the Risks – Water-smart parents are informed and aware of the risk factors affecting their family.
- Prepare – Always be prepared wherever you’re going.
- Participate – Stay where the action is and keep an eye on your children.
- Learn – It’s never too late to learn to swim.
Activities:
- Parents will have the opportunity to take the “Are you water-smart?” quiz at the CSC desk using a laptop (it is available all day at the CSC desk).
Day 6: Friday, July 26
Theme: Boating Safety & PFD Wear
Key Messages:
- Choose It. Use It. Always wear a life jacket.
- Lifejackets do not work if you do not wear them. Not wearing a life jacket is 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 life jackets.
Be Prepared:
- Know before you go. Check the weather forecast and learn about local hazards.
- Always have a boat safety kit on board. Check the condition of the boat and accessories.
Safety Tips:
- STARTboating® is a national program from the Lifesaving Society designed to educate new boaters on safety and responsibility.
- Never boat alone. Boating alone is a major risk factor in boating-related fatalities.
- Watch out for other swimmers and boaters. Always have a spotter when towing water skiers and tube riders.
- Ensure you have boating equipment that is appropriate for the season.
- Limit the use and number of inflatables, as they can obstruct views and float away. Always wear a life jacket on board.
Activities:
- Host a lifejacket clinic where children ages 3-12 can select appropriately sized lifejackets and receive free admission (all day as requested – Coral and Abby will set up the night before).
Day 7: Saturday, July 27
Theme: Alcohol & Substance Use
Key Messages:
- Alcohol and drugs impair your senses, reduce your ability to react to danger and increase your chance of being involved in a fatal drowning.
- Impaired boating is just as dangerous as impaired driving. By operating a boat under the influence, you risk your life and the lives of your passengers and other boaters.
Alcohol and Water Don’t Mix:
- Alcohol is the number one intoxicant contributing to drowning fatalities in Canada every year.
- In Alberta, alcohol is a contributing factor in 32% of boating fatalities, 53% of swimming fatalities in young adults, and 39% of swimming fatalities in older adults.
- In the Northwest Territories, alcohol is a contributing factor in 37% of boating fatalities, 48% of swimming fatalities in young adults, and 32% of swimming fatalities in older adults.
- Don’t Drink and Drown!
Activities:
- Demonstrate how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency situation (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm with Simon).
We hope you join us for these crucial activities and help spread awareness about drowning prevention. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.