Drowning deaths: Summer 2025 is expected to be worse than last year

A sign translating to 'risk of drowning' is shown next to the St. Lawrence River in, Montreal, Monday, June 26, 2023. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

In Quebec, 37 people have drowned since the beginning of the year, compared to 31 at the same time last year, with rivers being the main location for drownings.

As the construction holidays officially begin, CEO and spokesperson for the Lifesaving Society, Raynold Hawkins, stresses there are ways to prevent these tragedies, which kill about 100 people in Canada per year.

This week is the 32nd National Drowning Prevention Week (NDPW).

Hawkins’s first piece of advice is to never be alone when engaging in activities near, in or on the water, so that someone can call for help if necessary or come to the aid of a person in distress.

“This increases the overall concept of water or nautical safety,” he explains.

He says it’s crucial to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) when participating in water activities, which “will make the difference between a (summer) anecdote and a tragedy” in the event of a fall into the water.

While he recommends avoiding swimming in rivers, Hawkins urges swimmers to stay away from rapids and not to underestimate deep currents that can’t be perceived on the surface.

• READ MORE: Paddleboarder not wearing life jacket drowns west of Montreal: Quebec police

Swimming near a dam is also a bad idea, lest you get sucked into a vortex generated by the opening of a valve.

Hawkins recommends that parents of young children always keep their children within arm’s reach and under constant supervision, as infant drowning is a “silent phenomenon” that can occur in 15 to 20 seconds.

“When you’re with children, you have a duty to supervise them at all times,” explains Hawkins.

According to the Lifesaving Society, 80 per cent of drownings involving children under the age of 5 were due to absent or distracted supervision.

• READ MORE: Young man dies after possible drowning at Verdun Beach; 2nd incident this month

For older children and teenagers, there are two practices to avoid: holding your breath for as long as possible in the water, which can cause asphyxiation and make resuscitation more difficult, and diving into shallow areas.

In all cases, Hawkins recommends swimming parallel to the shore rather than out to sea.

He notes that more and more newcomers are among the drowning victims.

How can we prevent this?

For Hawkins, there is no doubt that a large part of the population overestimates their swimming ability.

According to him, you need to be able to swim about 15-25 metres to consider yourself capable of swimming in deeper water. Otherwise, Hawkins advises staying where the water is no deeper than your armpits.

“Despite what families tell us, our victims overestimate their ability to swim,” says Hawkins.

• READ MORE: Body found after man goes missing while swimming at Verdun Beach

However, there are some tips to follow if you find yourself in trouble.

In the case of rivers, Hawkins recommends lying on your back with your feet forward to avoid colliding with any obstacles, then starting to paddle with your hands to move towards the bank.

In the case of still water, once you can no longer touch the bottom, Hawkins advises “spreading your arms and legs” on your back, lifting your face out of the water, then taking a long breath to fill your lungs and float better. He then recommends starting to paddle with your hands to try to reach the shore.

Drowning and global warming

Hawkins has no doubt that there is a correlation between the number of drownings and global warming. The hotter it gets, the more people want to cool off wherever they are.

“Our concern is that the global warming we are experiencing may bring forward the season for water-related incidents, just as it may also delay it,” he explains.

He adds that the summers of 2012, 2017 and 2020 were extremely hot and also the deadliest in terms of drownings.

Each year, more than 70 per cent of drownings occur between May and September, with a peak in July.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French July 20, 2025.

Quentin Dufranne, The Canadian Press