A flag flew Friday at the Queen Elizabeth II building on the legislature grounds in honour of World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday. Six years ago, the United Nations and World Health Organization began marking the day on July 25 every year in recognition of drowning being a global issue. The date lines up with national data: Drownings typically peak in the third week of July in Canada. “This year’s theme for the World Health Organization is ‘Unite to turn the tide against drowning,’” said Madison Lalonde, the interim managing director for the Alberta and Northwest Territories Lifesaving Society branch. “A lot of the messaging that we’ve put out this week has been on an individual basis: make sure to wear your life jackets, leave the party for after, watch your children, don’t go alone. But when we’re talking about this on a collective scale, it’s really important to also bring organizations, municipalities and government officials in on this message, as well.” In addition to public education, the society works with organizations and communities to provide programming and advocate for policy change. Lalonde applauded Edmonton last year making it mandatory for all water vessels, from boats to paddleboards, to carry safety gear like flotation devices and whistle, or else face a $250 fine. She said there’s more room for municipalities to decrease drowning risks by taking action like that.
