‘Be water smart’ is the focus for National Drowning Prevention Week
Posted Jul 19, 2026 09:42:12 AM.
Last Updated Jul 20, 2026 02:55:53 PM.
From July 19 to July 25, the City of Kitchener will bring awareness to drowning prevention through information, activity sheets, and swim safety over the next week at all City of Kitchener pools.
This year’s theme is “prepare to be water smart,” and the city hopes to help people across the region learn steps that can help prevent drowning and other water-related injuries.
In a news release, the city said
“Over 400 Canadians die in preventable water-related incidents annually. Even one drowning is one too many. The Lifesaving Society designates the third week in July as National Drowning Prevention Week.”
Kitchener also included some facts about drowning, emphasizing how important safety can be around water:
- Drowning is fast and silent, often occurring in less than 30 seconds.
- On average, there are about 450 fatal drownings each year in Canada.
- Most people who drown never intended to go in the water. Swimming as a recreational activity accounts for 35% of fatal drownings.
- Drowning is the third-leading cause of injury-related death for Canadian children under 14 years of age, and statistics show that children under 12, boaters, young men, and seniors 65+ are at the greatest risk.
- For every fatal drowning in Ontario, there are nearly four non-fatal drownings serious enough to require an emergency department visit.
- Over one-third of victims were swimming alone when they drowned.
- In 38% of swimming-related fatalities, the person was a weak or non-swimmer.
- Powerboating accounts for over 50% of recreational boating-related fatalities in Canada.
July 25 is recognized by the World Health Organization as World Drowning Prevention Day, and gives those affected a chance to highlight tragedies involving drowning, as well as provide solutions on how to stop a possible future tragedy before it happens.
For more information, visit the City of Kitchener website.
Your Community:
