It’s drowning prevention week, and in an effort to raise awareness and equip parents with essential water safety knowledge, the Lifesaving Society Ontario has launched the “Water Smart Parents” campaign.
Statistics show that 96% of drownings in children under 5 were under distracted or absent supervision.
Stephanie Bakalar, Corporate Communications Manager, emphasizes the importance of discussing drowning prevention.
There are also more than 500 non-fatal incidents annually resulting in emergency room visits, related to drownings.
Bakalar adds that they’ve introduced the Water Smart Parents campaign to empower parents to take charge of their family’s water safety.
The campaign covers a wide range of scenarios, including stand-up paddleboarding, public pools, wakeboarding, bathtubs, kiddie pools, water parks, and more.
As Drowning Prevention Week continues, the organization urges all parents and caregivers to participate in the campaign, test their water smarts, and take proactive steps to become water smart parents.
(Written by: Bailey Shakyaver)
