Lifesaving Society Manitoba educating newcomers on water safety [Video]

Lifesaving Society Manitoba is focusing its efforts to educate newcomers on water safety during National Drowning Prevention Week.

The organization said, on average, 22 people in Manitoba fatally drown every year, and board chair Ashley Wallace said newcomers “experience a disproportionately high mortality burden” following a water-related injury.

“Not everyone grows up around water, has the opportunity to take swimming lessons, or learns about the risks associated with being in, on, or around water,” Wallace said Monday.

An Ipsos Reid survey commissioned by the Lifesaving Society found only 41 per cent of new Canadians have taken formal swimming lessons, but expressed wanting their children to have access. The survey does note 60 per cent of newcomer parents said their child was able to participate in swimming lessons.

“There is an appetite for more water safety education for new Canadians and more work to be done to ensure that new Canadians …