Spring
April Pools Day
Lifesaving Society April Pools Day is our spring fundraising event in which families and others go to their local pool and get prepared for our seasonal water-related safety activities. The goal is to educate as many families as possible across the province and we invite our affiliates to participate in this special event. Since its inception in 2008, affiliates have raised $30,000 for drowning prevention education.
Lifesaving Society April Pools Day includes a Water Smart® safety theme, and may include Swim with a Buddy education, Swim to Survive® water-safety demonstrations, lifejacket education, boating safety and a recreational swim.
When: Mark your calendars! Lifesaving Society April Pools Day is scheduled for April 1st. Check with your local facility for event dates - this event can take place throughout April.
Where: Your pool!
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What: Run an event from the list below or try something different - Here are some ideas:
- Two hour program promoting Water Smart® education and lifejacket use. (Participants test their life jackets or use pool life jackets to learn safe sizing and techniques for swimming with a lifejacket.)
- One hour of Swim to Survive® water safety instruction.
- One-hour free swim. (The water-safety instruction and free swims can been conducted concurrently as a two-hour program.)
- Swim to Survive® charity wristbands for sale to support drowning prevention.
- Raffle prizes for participants.
- We encourage all participants to set a personal fundraising goal raising at least $100 through pledges/sponsorship.
How: If you would like to host a Lifesaving Society April Pools Day event, print and complete the Registration Form and return it to
Fundraising
or fax to 416-490-8766. For additional information, please contact
Laurie Priestman
at 416-490-8844 ext. 265.
Summer
Lifesaving Society 500 metre swim for 500 lives (The Week to End Drowning - aquatic staff challenge)
The Lifesaving Society invites all aquatic staff across the province to participate in a special fundraising event during National Drowning Prevention Week. This event is dedicated to the 500 Canadians that lose their lives each year by drowning. The goal is to raise funds for drowning prevention education. Join us in preventing thousands of water related injuries! Since its inception in 2010, 2,059 lifeguards participated and raised $40,586 for drowning prevention education.
When: National Drowning Prevention Week - Nine days starting the third Saturday in July.
What: 500 metre swim during in-service training. Each aquatic facility can plan their 500 metre swim for 500 lives in service training anytime during National Drowning Prevention Week.
How: If you would like to host this event, please complete the attached Registration Form and return it to
Fundraising
or fax to 416-490-8766.
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Lifesaving Society Rescue Tube Relay
In this event aquatic staff run a relay with a rescue tube across the region from one facility to another while raising funds and awareness for drowning prevention education. Here are the areas that have participated since 2010:
- Year 6 - Cochrane District, City of Windsor, August 23-24, 2015
- Year 5 - Grey-Bruce area, July 12-13, 2014. - relay distance 270 km
- Year 4 - London-Middlesex area, July 8-19, 2013 - relay distance 80 km
- Year 3 - Tillsonburg area, August 8-17, 2012 - relay distance 200 km
- Year 2 - Windsor-Essex area, August 20-27, 2011 - relay distance 135 km
- Year 1 - York Region area, August 21-22, 2010 - relay distance 120 km
Since its inception in 2010, 480 lifeguards have participated and raised $21,300 for the "Within Arms' Reach" public education campaign.
If your area is interested in hosting the Lifesaving Society Rescue Tube Relay in your region, please review the Event Outline below and contact the fundraising staff for more information.
Event Outline
The Lifesaving Society invites all affiliates and their communities across the province to participate in this special fundraising event during the summer!
Lifeguards are mobilizing to spread safety tips to the community. They are determined to raise awareness by reaching parents with important Water Smart® messages. The focus is that parents need to be vigilant - many children who drown do so because parents or caregivers lose sight of them for a short period of time. Parents need to be their child's lifeguard by remaining within arms' reach at all times. The key message, "if you're not within arms' reach, you've gone too far."
When: Anytime during the summer - July 1 to September 1 (We encourage all participants to set a personal fundraising goal raising at least $100 through pledges/sponsorship.)
What: Each participant will run a specific distance carrying a rescue tube - a foam flotation device used to support a victim during rescue, and an essential piece of a lifeguard's equipment.
How: If you would like to organize a Lifesaving Society Rescue Tube Relay in your community/municipality, please complete the attached Registration Form and return it to
Fundraising
or fax to 416-490-8766.
Winter
Lifesaving Society Ice Safety Awareness Month (November)
November is Ice Safety Awareness Month, where families and others visit their local pools to get prepared for our seasonal water-related safety activities. The goal is to educate as many families as possible across the province and we invite our affiliates to participate in this special event.
Each facility designs their own Lifesaving Society Ice Safety Awareness Month, which can include a Water Smart® safety theme that best fits their community, and may include the following educational themes: "Ice Thickness," "Cold Water Kills," "Winter Sports on Ice," Swim to Survive® water-safety demonstrations and a recreational swim.
When: Mark your calendar this winter - November 1-30.
Where: Your pool!
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What: Run an event from the list below or try something different - it's up to you!
- Two-hour program promoting Water Smart® education, Ice Safety ("Check the ice before you go in," "Be Ice Smart. Don't fall through the cracks," "Icy water: A chill that kills"), Winter weather facts ("Hypothermia," "Frostbite Signs and Symptoms"), etc.
- One hour of Swim to Survive® water-safety instruction.
- One-hour free swim. (The water-safety instruction and free swims can be conducted concurrently as a two-hour event.)
- "Coin Drive" - Order you canister(s) and collect change for Ice Safety Awareness Month.
- Sell Swim to Survive® charity wristbands to support drowning prevention.
- Raffle for free swim lessons donated by your pool, and any other door prize your pool can promote (i.e., Swim to Survive T-shirt prize pack to be provided by the Lifesaving Society for every pool that participates including Blistex lip balm products.)
- We encourage all participants to set a personal fundraising goal raising at least $100 through pledges/sponsorship.
How: If you would like to host, please complete the attached Registration Form and return it to
Fundraising
or fax to 416-490-8766. For additional information, please contact
Laurie Priestman
at 416-490-8844 ext. 265.