Drowning Prevention
Last week was drowning prevention week across Canada and this week we are going to provide you a recap about what was shared!
Did you know that 500 Canadians die every year as a result of drowning? It is the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under the age of 60. It only takes seconds to drown and most incidents are silent and unexpected, not the dramatic splashing around like you may have seen on movies and shows.
What are the facts of drowning so we can learn how to prevent it?
Did you know that 500 Canadians die every year as a result of drowning? It is the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under the age of 60. It only takes seconds to drown and most incidents are silent and unexpected, not the dramatic splashing around like you may have seen on movies and shows.
What are the facts of drowning so we can learn how to prevent it?
- 79% of drowning victims are male, especially those between the ages of 20-34 years.
- Alcohol consumption is a factor in 40% of boat related fatalities. That's a high percentage! Choose to boat sober.
- Not wearing a life jacket of PFD was a factor in 88% of boating deaths. Always wear a life jacket of PDF.
- Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury deaths among Canadian children under the age of 10. Make sure to always keep an eye and a close distance to your children when you are around children. Try and stay within arms reach
- 34% of drownings happen in a pond, 28% in a river, 12% in a bathtub, 9% in a pool, and 7% in the ocean. Know your areas of risk!
- 66% of drownings occur from the months of May to September. That's only 4 months out of the year that make over half of all drowning incidents!
What were people doing?
- 31% were swimming
- 14% were walking, playing, or running near water
- 13% were fishing
- 10%were power boating
- 6% were canoeing
Risk Factors
- not wearing a life jacket
- alcohol consumption
- alone
- weak or non-swimmer
Children under the age of 5 are especially at risk for drowning mostly because they don't understand the dangers associated with it. They are attracted to water but cannot understand the danger and while they are able to walk, they can't swim! These little ones can drown in as little as one inch of water. Children between the ages of 5 to 14 are also at risk because they may over estimate their own skills and underestimate the depth of the water or strength of the current.
Water safety is so important to be aware of. While having swimming lessons can help, it doesn't always prevent incidents. Learn more this week of what can be done to prevent a water-related fatality!
References
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