Drowning deaths are preventable

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(DALE CUMMINGS)

Manitoba is stubbornly clinging to the ignominious distinction of being a high-drowning province, where the rate of preventable water deaths is higher, discernibly, than the national average. Logically, much of the focus on water safety and swimming lessons is typically trained on educating the very young, and their parents. But statistics show those most likely to drown are young men.

Colloquially known as the beer and bravado club -- those who go boating or playing on water when partying at the lake -- young men across Canada are at elevated risk. In particular, those in the 18- to 24-year-old group die at a rate that outstrips any other group. The Canadian Lifesaving Society has more bad news for men. It appears for many of them, as they grow older, they don't get any smarter, or safer, around water because rates are climbing as the baby boom cohort moves on in age.

This is instructive, especially for public awareness campaigns and for those with loved ones in the high-risk categories. The greatest risk comes from swimming, still, but power-boating and fishing are right up there too, among the Top 10 activities for drowning.

Manitoba has its own high-risk groups. As with other jurisdictions, new Canadians have elevated risk around water, but aboriginal people in this province have drowning rates far in excess of the Canadian averages.

Parents of young children cannot let down their guard, and it is simply good practice to put life preservers on the very young who venture to the edge of pools or at lakes. Canada does not have a mandatory life-jacket law while boating, but such a federal regulation makes eminent sense for children, something made more obvious as more provinces consider bicycle helmet laws for the young.

While enforcement would be catch-as-catch-can, the weight of law has influence on social attitudes and helps to keep the issue front and centre for a mindful population. Further, during the young years it can breed the attitudes and habits that can save lives as youths mature into older teens and young adults.

Drowning trends in Canada until 2009 were optimistic as public campaigns took hold and more people were convinced to watch their kids and be cautious around water. Since 2009, the numbers have jumped up and around, such that it is difficult to know whether the blip will resolve, or if it indicates a need to redouble efforts.

The aging of the population may produce a sustained rise in the number of deaths. As has been seen in Manitoba recently, an impulse to have fun on water can turn deadly for the aging if it overrides the better judgment to wear a personal flotation device. But the voice of caution is unlikely to be there at all if the reflex to protect oneself is not learned while young.

Swimming safety courses are typically the purview of municipalities. Manitoba's towns and cities ought to tailor programs to new Canadians and aboriginal people, alongside the standard promotion of learn-to-swim/swim-to-survive lessons for children.

Efforts to reduce the toll of drowning, however, may benefit from targeting water safety at young men, with the same shock-drama advertising drinking-and-driving campaigns use. It's just not cool to inflict the tragedy of dying from risky play on water on family and friends.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 12, 2012 A10