This year's National Drowning Prevention Week theme is "Learn to Swim"

Despite the downward trend in the number of drownings, it's still the leading cause of unintentional death in Canada.

That's why the Lifesaving Society Manitoba is getting the message out about National Drowning Prevention Week. Executive Director Stacey Grocholski says the focus of this year is learning how to swim.

"It's a key layer of protection in drowning prevention, and swimming is a life skill," says Grocholski. "It's something that anybody can learn at any point in time of their lives. So, it's something that we really strongly encourage."

Grocholski says drowning can be preventable and that's why they are working with their partners to make it as easy a possible for someone to learn. She says there are programs all over rural Manitoba designed to help people who want that skill.

"A lot of the drownings that happen in Manitoba are individuals or kids that unexpectedly fall into the water," says Grocholski . "That's something that, if you have either swimming skills, or you have the 'Swim to Survive' skills, it could save your life."

Some of the Swim to Survive skills include rolling in deep water, treading water for one minute, and swimming 50 metres. The Lifesaving Society Manitoba declares the third week in July as National Drowning Prevention Week every year.

Winkler Aquatic Centre recently hosted its highly anticipated Swim Smart event on Thursday. This event, dedicated to promoting water safety and awareness, successfully brought together swimmers of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds for a day filled with education, excitement, and splashing.

The primary focus of the Swim Smart event was to provide participants with knowledge of essential water safety skills, enabling a sense of confidence and security in and around the water. Throughout the day, certified lifeguards led interactive workshops and demonstrations, covering topics like rescue methods, and how to respond in emergencies.