Press Release: Drowning Report 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
For Immediate Release
Lifesaving Society announces the release of the 2017 Drowning Report
The Lifesaving Society is a National Not-For-Profit organization, solely focused on drowning prevention. Each year, the Lifesaving Society along with our partners release this report to inform on the issues of drowning related deaths in the province.
Highlights of the Report
- This year’s report (2017) reports on data up to and including 2014. The delay is due to ensuring accuracy of reporting from coroner’s reports.
- The highest drowning rate in Manitoba was found among children under the age of 5; and was the highest among any province in Canada.
- The second highest age group for drownings in Manitoba was ages 20-24, with 3.4 drownings per 100,000 a rate that is nearly double the national rate of 1.8 drownings per 100,000.
- Swimming, walking/running/playing near water, and boating remain leading causes of drownings in Manitoba and 96% of boating deaths were not wearing a Lifejacket.
The Key Message
Manage your risk. Take a minute to evaluate the drowning risks you face each day, be it playing at the waterfront with kids, boating, or fishing. Wear a Lifejacket, supervise children, and remember that alcohol and boating or swimming does not mix.
About the Lifesaving Society
The Lifesaving Society: Canada's lifeguarding experts. We are a full-service provider of programs, products and services designed to prevent drowning. We save lives and prevent water-related injury through our training programs, Water Smart® public education, drowning prevention research, aquatic safety management and lifesaving sport. Each year, more than 1,000,000 Canadians participate in the Society's swimming, lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership programs. Learn More