National Drowning Prevention

Local resident and Aquatic Leader with the City of Medicine Hat, Rhys Sept, has a deep-rooted passion for educating the community about water safety and drowning prevention. Rhys believes that through awareness and knowledge, lives can be saved. 

From July 16 to 22, 2023, National Drowning Prevention Week will take place, dedicated to raising awareness about the increased drownings in Canada. As an active Lifeguard and member of the Lifesaving Society, Rhys saw this campaign as an opportunity to remind Hatters to educate themselves on water safety.

"My passion is education, and I enjoy serving my community," says Rhys. "Ever since I can remember, I loved being in the water. I am blessed to be able to combine my passions into my job with parks and recreation.”

Rhys aims to encourage all individuals around water to educate themselves and firmly believes that while anyone could drown, nobody should.

“The World Health Organization estimated that 236,000 lives are lost annually due to drowning,” says Rhys. “Making it the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide. This is quite alarming!”

Rhys shares that drowning incidents are not limited to recreational activities alone and is determined to educate the public around preventive measures to ensure safety in all water-related activities.

“Another surprising statistic is that seventy-three per cent of all drownings are males ages 19-29 years old, often linked to watercraft incidents,” says Rhys. “I strongly encourage everyone to participate in courses such as swimming lessons or First Aid training. Even if you can only commit to one activity, getting involved in some way is important.”

Rhys commends the community for their efforts in water safety, particularly through initiatives like the Fire Boat Crew and Flood Prevention Training. However, he believes that education was the most significant preventative measure and revealed that having a supervised water setting reduces the drowning rate to less than 2 percent. This includes parents actively engaging in pool settings, ensuring the safety of their children.

In his role as an Aquatic Leader, Rhys provides leadership and guidance to lifeguards, drawing on his 25 years of experience as a lifeguard himself. To further promote drowning prevention, the teepee will shine blue in support of World Drowning Prevention Day (July 25).

For more information on National Drowning Prevention week visit, www.lifesaving.org. Interested in learning about Lifeguarding courses with the City of Medicine Hat, visit, https://bit.ly/lifeguarding-mh.