New Canadian ‘tweens’ at higher risk for drowning: study

by jason_cramp | July 13, 2016 4:24 pm

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A new study commissioned by the Lifesaving Society has found tweens (aged 11-14) who are new to Canada are five times more likely to be unable to swim than their Canadian-born classmates.

Despite these findings, however, 93 per cent of new Canadian tweens say they participate in activities in, on, or around water.

The study, titled “The Influence of Ethnicity on Tweens Swimming & Water Safety in Canada,” was conducted to better understand the attitudes and behaviours of Canadian tweens around swimming and water safety—for both new Canadians and those born in Canada. To do so, the study builds on research commissioned by the Lifesaving Society in 2010, which found that new Canadian adults were four times more likely to be unable to swim than those born in Canada.

These results suggest water safety risk is higher for new Canadian tweens than those born in Canada. The danger is even higher for tweens who have been in the country for less than five years, as the study revealed this group is seven times more likely to be unable to swim than those born in Canada.

“The study results confirmed observations from our 2010 research that families coming to Canada often have different knowledge or experiences around issues of water safety and the importance of learning to swim,” says Barbara Byers, public education director for the Lifesaving Society. “We undertook this research to focus specifically on tweens, to gain insight into the best ways to communicate to them about water safety and to motivate them to learn to swim.

“This age group is important; despite the desire for greater independence, parents and schools still have a level of influence on their daily activities. Tweens and teens who continue into young adulthood without learning to swim are moving into a very high risk category.”

The 2016 Canadian Drowning Report also supports these findings, says Byers. In fact, it indicates that 20-24 year-olds had one of the highest drowning rates; therefore, learning basic water survival skills at this age will provide protection into adulthood.

Statistics Canada projects the population of new Canadians will continue to increase, reaching between 25 and 28 per cent by 2031. This suggests at least one in four people living in Canada could be foreign born. That said, many new Canadians come from countries where learning to swim and water safety are not part of their experience. When they come to Canada, a country with an abundance of fresh water and opportunity for water-based activities, they often want to embrace the experience of swimming. The study shows the majority (73%) of new Canadian tweens who can swim learned to do so in Canada.

“We want to encourage families who are new to Canada to make swimming lessons a part of their Canadian experience,” says Byers. “This research gives us valuable insights into how we can evolve and promote programs like Swim to Survive to help overcome some of these challenges.”

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/new-canadian-tweens-at-higher-risk-for-drowning-study/

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