An important message on water safety is coming to Sylvan Lake Provincial Park next Thursday.
Towels emblazoned with the words “Before you think only other swimmers drown, have a word with yourself” will be laid in the park from 3-5 p.m. as part of National Drowning Prevention Week, according to a news release from Kathleen Raines of Safe Communities Central Alberta and its injury prevention partners.
In the past 10 years more than 570 children have drowned in Canada. This is equal to roughly 10 school bus loads. Every year, another 140 children are hospitalized because they nearly drowned. Near drowning can result in long-term health effects, and can affect the way a child thinks, learns and plays.
Major risk factors include alcohol use among those age 15-65, failing to wear a lifejacket while boating and lack of supervision for children.
Statistics indicated that while 20 per cent of Canadians believe that a child under 6 is safe near water without a lifejacket as long as they aren’t swimming, the reality is that 79 per cent of children who drowned entered the water unintentionally.