> » ~ ~--"---> »->--,---,--,>"-,-> ~---------From: LifesavingSociety- Swimto SUlVive[mailto:awards@lifesaving.bc.ca]Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2006 3:35 PMTo: admdeptSubject: MayoralProclamation- DrowningPreventionDayImportance: High

Hello!

The Lifesaving Society is encouraging communities throughout BC & the Yukon to take the Swim toSurvive Challenge this summer. The goal of the Swim to Survive Challenge is to get as many citizensas possible to achieve the Swim to Survive standard. The standard focuses on a straightforward andsimple skill sequence: roll into deep water, tread water for 1 minute and swim 50 metres. If allCanadians could meet the Swim to Survive standard, we believe that the drowning rate could be reducedby 50% within 10 years.

We hope that the Mayor's Office and Council can help us raise awareness of this DrowningPrevention Day campaign in your community by completing the Mayoral Proclamation at yournext meeting.

If you need more information, see the media release or visit our website's Swim to Survive section-please feel free to contact me as well at QIQgrams2@lifesaving.bc.ca

Regards,

David RoseAssistant Education DirectorLifesaving SocietyBC & Yukon Branchwebsite: www.lifesaving.bc.ca

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MEDIA RELEASEFor immediate release

SWIM AND SURVIVE THIS SUMMER"Swimto Survive"programwill be launchedat BC&YukonPools this summer.

With the warm weather upon us, thousands of British Columbians will be coolingoff in and around the water. The vast majority will have a fun and safe summer.Unfortunately, some will die and others will suffer debilitati"ng injuries.

Approximately 100 people die each year in British Columbia in water-relatedincidents, making drowning a leading cause of preventable death for people underthe age of 55 years.

"It is possible to reduce the number of water-related injuries, including drowningand near drowning," says Barbara Underhill, co-founder of the Stephanie GaetzKEEPSAFEFoundation. Underhill's 8-month-old daughter drowned in a backyardpool in 1993. She has since initiated the Swim to Survive program with theLifesaving Society of Canada. "As children move beyond the toddler stage, learningto swim is a necessary life skill. We teach our children bike safety and road safety,but we also need to equip them with the swimming ability necessary for survivaL"

The Lifesaving Society believes that basic swimming ability is a fundamentalrequirement in any meaningful attempt to eliminate drowning in Canada. This iswhat the Swimto Survivecampaign is all about - it is simple, straightforward, andfocused. It defines the essential minimum skills required to survive an unexpectedfall into water.

"The Swim to Survive standard focuses on a single skill sequence: roll into deepwater, tread water for 1 minute and swim 50 metres," says Glen Cheetham,Education Director of the Lifesaving Society's BC & Yukon Branch. "The programpromotes success since any method that allows the learner to achieve the standardis acceptable - whether people achieve it with a PFD on, or simply practice it, thefact is they are now safer around the water and hopefully inspired to learn more."

To raise awareness of the Swim to Survive standard the Lifesaving Society ischallenging all BC and Yukon pools and lifeguards to take on the Swim to SurviveChallenge this summer as part of their annual national Drowning Prevention Daycampaign beginning July 22, 2006. "We are challenging all community pools toencourage as many citizens as possible to attempt the Swim to Survive standard,"saysCheetham. "The more people the better - we hope that communities, clubs,and organizations will embrace the challenge and run with it. The goal is to reducedrownings by 50% within 10 years."

To learn more about the Swim to Survive Challenge, visit the Lifesaving Society'swebsite - www.lifesaving.bc.ca - and contact your local pool to learn how you andyour family can meet the Swim to Survive Standard and enjoy swimming safely thissummer.

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For more information on the Swim to Survive Challenge, please contact:Glen Cheetham

Lifesaving Society604.299.5450604.317.9094 (eel)

programs@lifesaving.bc.ca

About the Stephanie Gaetz KEEPSAFEFoundationThe Stephanie Gaetz KEEPSAFE Foundation is a registered, private charitablefoundation dedicated to preventing childhood injuries. The Foundation waslaunched by Barbara Underhill and Rick Gaetz after the tragic death of theirdaughter Stephanie in 1993. The Foundation funds and supports safety-relatedprograms across the country. For more information, please visitwww.keepsafefoundation.com or call 1-866-383-9733.

About the lifesaving SocietyThe Lifesaving Society, Canada's lifeguarding experts, is a charitable organizationworking to prevent drowning and water-related injury through its trainingprograms, Water Smart@public education and safety management services. Eachyear in Canada, the Society certifies more than 200,000 people in its lifesaving,lifeguarding, leadership, and first aid courses. For more information, please visitwww.lifesaving.bc.ca.

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Sample Office of the Mayor Proclamation

The Lifesaving Society issues a challenge to all Mayor Offices in BC & the Yukon tomake a commitment to reducing the risk of drowning in their communities and toproclaim the fourth Saturday of July as Drowning Prevention Day. The LifesavingSociety is faxing the proclamation below to as many Mayor Offices as possible -stay tuned to your community newspaper to see if your civic council processed theproc lamation.

OFFICEOF THEMAYORPROClAMATION

Canadians love the water, but unfortunately, as millions take to it, aquatic injuries and fatalities will occur. Infact, such incidents represent the third leading cause of accidental death for all ages and the second leadingcause of death for children. What is most unfortunate is that all of these deaths are preventable.

Whereas

In recognition of the fact that basic swimming ability is a fundamental requirement in any meaningful attemptto eliminate drowning in Canada, the LifesavingSociety has developed the Swim to Survive Standard,

And Whereas

In recognition of the hundreds of lives that could be saved each year by spreading water safety informationand promoting the Swim to Survive standard, the LifesavingSociety has proclaimed the fourth Saturday ofeach July as National Drowning Prevention Day,

And Whereas

We, the citizens ofdrowning in our community.

affirmand support the need to reduce the riskof

Be it resolved that

I, Mayor ofdo hereby proclaim Saturday, July 22nd,2006 as

DROWNING PREVENTIONDAY

In witness thereof

I urge all who participate in aquatic activities to maintain their own safety and the safety of others aroundthem, I encourage all citizens to take on the challenge of meeting the Swim to Survive standard.

I set my hand to this day of two thousand and

(Signed)Mayorof