Skip to content

Town and County of Stettler declare ‘National Drowning Prevention Week’

The national awareness campaign takes place from July 21st – 27th
17634169_web1_190709-EXP-M-Drowning-copy

On June 14th, Mayor Sean Nolls of the Town of Stettler and Reeve Larry Clarke of the County of Stettler signed a proclamation declaring National Drowning Prevention Week in Stettler from July 21st to 27th.

The proclamation was signed in conjunction with a nation-wide campaign by the Lifesaving Society, encouraging Canadians to educate themselves on how to avoid preventable water-related incidents.

Nearly 500 Canadians drown annually in preventable situations, making drowning the third leading cause of unintentional death among Canadians under the age of 60.

According to Sonia Dodd, aquatics manager at the Stettler Recreation Centre, “It is so important to enroll children in swimming lessons, be diligent when supervising children around water, and to be adamant about the use of personal flotation devices.

“An incident can happen in an instance.”

In recognition of National Drowning Prevention Week, the Stettler Aquatic Centre encourages everyone to take the Swim to Survive Challenge and participate in the variety of Water Smart activities that will be offered.

Furthermore, the SRC strongly encourages swimming lessons, regardless of age or experience. Says Dodd, “Water safety should always be a priority; one day, it could save the life of you or a loved one.”

For more information or to review Water Smart tips, visit www.lifesavingsociety.com.

-Submitted