| |
Press Releases
 Back
to Main Press Releases page
June 12, 2003
Within Arms Reach: Drowning Can Be Prevented
OTTAWA — The Canadian Red Cross, CHEO’s
Child & Youth Injury Prevention Centre Plan-It
Safe, the City of Ottawa’s People Services and
the Lifesaving Society launched its citywide drowning
prevention campaign today at the Splash Wave Pool.
The campaign’s objective is to increase awareness
of the dangers associated with summer water activities
and the importance of water safety for parents, caregivers
and children.Assisting in their efforts to launch
the campaign was Dr. Martin Osmond, Pediatric Emergency
Physician and CHEO’s Medical Director of Trauma,
and Judy Bates, Manager in Community Services for
the City of Ottawa.Dr. Osmond stated “if we
prevent even one drowning and near-drowning this summer
and reduce the chances of children and youth finding
themselves at CHEO for this reason, then this campaign
is even more worthwhile. Increased vigilance and supervision
by parents and caregivers, as well as educating children
to stay away from water can go a long way in preventing
drownings. Keep children within arms reach because
collectively, we all have a role to play to make sure
our children and youth have a water-safe summer.”
Among the group’s key messages are that drownings
are completely preventable and that supervision is
the responsibility of an adult. If a child is not
within arms’ reach, then they’ve gone
too far.Aaron Burry, Director of Community Services,
City of Ottawa, explains, “the City of Ottawa
has programs that teach children to stay safe in,
on and around the water by focusing on injury prevention,
water safety and swimming. The public can call 580-2400
or visit ottawa.ca to find out more about these programs.”Also
on hand for the event were AquaTots swim class participants.
This Canadian Red Cross Water Safety program offered
by the City teaches parents and caregivers how to
ensure safety at all times while in, on and around
water. Active supervision and proper training can
help to prevent drownings. To date the Coalition has
sent a mailing to all schools in the city of Ottawa
with drowning prevention information, specifically
targeting grade 2 classes as this falls in line with
their curriculum. The group has also had some of its
key messages translated into several languages and
has relied on the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services
Organization (OCISO) to help relay the information
to the Chinese-Mandarin, Somali and Arabic communities.
Information is also being sent to libraries, licensed
childcare facilities, community centers, pools, Early
Years Centres, and the City of Ottawa’s summer
camps. Recipients of the kits are encouraged to hold
a special “drowning prevention” day in
their respective centres and to use the resource materials
provided as tools in conveying the key messages. This
is the 38th announcement in the City of Ottawa’s
100 in 200 Campaign. Every day, the City makes significant
investments in the things that matter most to people,
including public health, green spaces, safety, public
services and public transit. This Campaign, which
continues until Thanksgiving 2003, highlights the
scale and scope of these initiatives, and demonstrates
how the City constantly works to make Ottawa a safer
and better community for everyone.
Media Relations: 737-2343, or paged via 737-7600.
|
