The Lifesaving Society has been researching and reporting on
drowning and preventable water-related deaths in Ontario since 1989
- and since 1990, for each province and nationally. This research
provides a comprehensive fact base on the drowning problem to guide
the Society and others in developing drowning prevention
solutions.
The drowning research process involves data collection, research
tabulation and analysis, and development of reports. A data
collection form and process is used to extract the water-related
deaths data from the offices of the Chief Coroners and Medical
Examiners in each province. The scope of this research:
- Collects the data needed to profile victims of aquatic
incidents, including the circumstances and contributing factors
under which these incidents occurred.
- Includes all deaths in each province and Canada overall
resulting from incidents "in, on or near water"; "near-water"
incidents were included if the incident was closely related to
water-based recreational, vocational or daily living activity, or
if the presence of water appeared to be an attraction contributing
to the incident.
- Includes only preventable (unintentional) deaths. It does not
include deaths due to natural causes, suicide, or homicide.
Research on New canadians
I'm 2010, the Lifesaving Society commissioned an Ipsos
Reid research study to gain insight into the influence ethnicity
has on attitudes and behaviours around water safety. Despite plans
by more than 79% of new Canadians to be in and around the water
during the summer, they are 4 times more likely to be unable to
swim than those born in Canada.
In 2011, the Society conducted focus groups with new
Canadians to gain further insight into their initial findings. The
2011 focus group results support findings from the 2010 study. In
fact, focus group participants said they are drawn to the water and
want to be a part of what they call the 'real Canadian'
experience.
Views on swimming
- 73 % of new Canadians feel it is important to know how to
swim when you live in Canada because there is so much
water.
- 74 % of new Canadians enjoy swimming for fun and
recreation.
- 71 % of new Canadians see swimming as a safe activity for
themselves and 78 % see it as a safe activity for their
children.
Views on swimming lessons
Many parents commented on the desire for their children to
take advantage of what Canadian culture has to offer, and in
particular, to enjoy swimming as part of 'nature and the great
outdoors'. They perceive swimming as part of the recreational
culture in Canada and see the benefits for their children in terms
of exercise and developing a life skill.
- Only 41 per cent of new Canadians have taken formal
swimming lessons but most want their children to have
lessons
- 60 per cent of parents with children between the ages of
five and 15 reported that their child had participated in swimming
lessons
Despite not having taken formal lessons themselves, most
parents consider lessons for their children a priority. Value was
placed on lessons that were considered 'high quality', that had a
system of levels or standards to mark progress and celebrate
achievement, and that provided lessons on how to be safe around
water as well as learning how to swim.
Muslim respondents
- 57 per cent of Muslim respondents felt that their
religion or culture has an impact on what they wear when swimming
and close to 50 per cent felt that it has an impact on who they are
able to swim with and where they can swim
There were some concerns raised by Muslim parents about
public swimming lessons that didn't/failed to address cultural and
religious issues such as appropriate swimming attire and separation
of boys and girls. Parents are interested in female only lessons,
with female instructors.