The Lifesaving Society designates the third week in July as National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW) to focus community and media attention on the drowning problem and drowning prevention.
NDPW 2026 will take place on July 19-25, 2026.
This year, the theme is Prepare! We'll be sharing stats and messaging about topics like planning ahead, building skills, and making smart choices around water to save lives.
NDPW is better together, so we're asking you, our partners, to share our messages and data throughout the week to educate your communities and help save lives. There are a variety of ways to get involved:
Check back later for our 2026 NDPW asset kit.
World Drowning Prevention Day falls during NDPW! Learn more about World Drowning Prevention day here.
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 (which will be made available soon!). And be sure to include the #NDPW2026 and #SNPN2026 hashtags.
World drowning prevention day
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, which falls during NDPW. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and offer lifesaving solutions to prevent it. 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 (and let us know about it!)
- Using #DrowningPrevention on social media
Logos
Additional NDPW Messages to Emphasize
These messages were selected because of the major risk factors presented in the Ontario Drowning Report – 2025 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. Don't boat alone and 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.
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 substitute 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.