The Lifesaving Society designates the third week in July (July 21-27, 2024) as National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW) to focus community and media attention on the drowning problem and drowning prevention.
This year, for National Drowning Prevention Week the Ontario Lifesaving Society Branch is focusing on educating families about non-fatal drowning.
Non-fatal drowning is disproportionately impacting children in Ontario. As our partners, we are asking you to share our messages and data to help educate parents on the risks that lead to non-fatal drowning and the prevention measures they can take to safeguard their families.
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Each year in Ontario there is an average of:
- 164 drowning deaths
- 100 hospitalizations due to non-fatal drowning
- 568 emergency department visits due to non-fatal drowning
What can you do?
There are many ways for you to participate during National Drowning Prevention Week. Everyone’s contributions make a difference. Choose what works for you below.
- Social media posts and graphics
- Swim and Lifesaving Instructor activities
- Handouts and printed resource materials
- Water Smart® activities
- Water Smart® Contest
- Follow us and share our content on social media
Download our free NDPW Asset Kit and visit watersmartparents.ca.
Social Media
Throughout NDPW, the Lifesaving Society, Ontario will be active on social media. We encourage you to interact with our branch on all of our social media platforms as well as the Lifesaving Society nationally.
Facebook: Lifesaving Society Ontario
Twitter: @LifesavingON
Instagram: @lifesavingsocietyon
LinkedIn: Lifesaving Society Ontario
TikTok: @lifesavingsocietyon
If you'd like to create your own posts for the week, feel free to use resources, media, and copy provided in our NDPW asset kit! And be sure to include the #NDPW2024 and #SNPN2024 hashtags. How to use hashtags / Mots-clics pour médias sociaux.
World drowning prevention day
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, right in the middle of NDPW. Learn more about World Drowning Prevention Day here.
Some actions you can consider taking to participate in this movement are:
- Wearing blue
- Reaching out to your local municipality or local businesses to illuminate notable landmarks in blue light
- Using #DrowningPrevention on social media
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Look for these Ontario landmarks to be lit up blue on WDPD!
- Niagara Falls at 10:00-10:15 p.m. thanks to the The Niagara Falls Illumination Board
- The CN Tower
- Oakville Town Hall
- Oakville Performing Arts Centre
- Windsor City Hall from July 22-26
- Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket
- Fred A. Lundy Bridge (located on Water Street) in Newmarket from sunset until 11:00 p.m.
- Mississauga Clock Tower at 8 p.m.
- OTTAWA sign at Byward Market
- Lansdown Park, Ottawa
- TD Place, Ottawa
- Vaughan City Hall
Themes and proclamations
NDPW 2024 Suggested Messages and Themes / 2024 Messages et thèmes suggérés
NDPW provides a focus around which community Water Smart® educators can plan news releases, do television and radio interviews, and deliver public demonstrations and other events. Many successful community events are launched with a Mayor’s Proclamation of Drowning Prevention Week.
The themes below are suggestions for how you can target your NDPW campaign to use specific messages targeted to address trends seen in Lifesaving Society drowning reports and the data from the Drowning Prevention Research Centre. The key messages can be used on social media.
NDPW logos in English and French are here.
Here's the Sample Proclamation Template / Version français.
Here's the Sample Proclamation Request Letter / Version français.
Main NDPW Messages to Emphasize
These messages were selected because of the major risk factors presented in the Ontario Drowning Report – 2024 Edition.
- The Drowning Problem. Over 400 Canadians die in preventable water-related incidents annually. Even one drowning is one too many.
- Supervise Children. Always directly supervise children around the water - if you are not within arms’ reach, you’ve gone too far.
- Boating Safety. Choose it. Use it. Always wear a lifejacket when in a boat.
- Learn to Swim. In most drownings, the victim never intended to go in the water and was often close to safety – could you survive a sudden and unexpected fall into the water?
- Stay Sober In, On, and Around Water. Alcohol consumption is a factor in many water related fatalities. Both alcohol and cannabis use impair balance, judgment, and reflexes. Stay sober when in, on or around the water.
- Open Water Safety. Make smart choices before going in, on or around the water.
- Just Keep Learning. You can save a life, yours, and someone else’s. Take a learn-to-swim, lifesaving or first aid class today.
NDPW Learning Activities
The Lifesaving Society has prepared some Water Smart Learning Activities to assist you in delivering the main messages:
Learn to Swim
Basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. The Lifesaving Society offers training programs from learn-to-swim through advanced lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership.
Our Swim for Life program stresses lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate valuable Water Smart® education that will last a lifetime.
Swim to Survive is a Lifesaving Society survival training program. Swim to Survive is not a subsititute for swimming lessons; instead, it defines the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. People of all ages should be able to perform the Society's Swim to Survive standard.