National Drowning Prevention Week: July 16 - 22

 The Drowning Problem:

Complete the Safe Swimmer Pledge for raffle entries, pick up a Water Smart activity book, and participate in the Water Smart Safe or Sorry game.

Drowning remains the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under 60+ years of age, with over 400 preventable water-related incidents occurring annually. Even one drowning is one too many.

Let's take a closer look at the statistics:

• The age groups with the highest risk of drowning are young adults aged 20-34, adults aged 50-64, and seniors over 65. Children under the age of 5 are also vulnerable.

• Males, particularly those between 20-34 years of age, are most commonly affected by drowning.

•  In Alberta over the past 20 years, there has been an average annual increase of 1.1% in fatal drownings and 0.6% in emergency department visits.

We must work together to prevent these tragic incidents and ensure water safety for all.

Stay tuned for our lineup of events and activities throughout NDPW. Let's make a difference and promote drowning prevention awareness in our community!