Vancouver Park Board, the Vancouver Lifeguard Association and the B.C. and Yukon Lifesaving Society are once again joining forces to offer up free drowning prevention courses to kids in Vancouver.

Swim to Survive courses are being offered for up to 672 children and teens on Wednesday, July 18 at New Brighton Pool. Kids aged 7 to 18 can register for one of three two-hour courses offered that day.

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“We’re pleased to once again support this critical program at the height of summer, equipping children and youth with the skills to safely enjoy our pools and beaches,” park board chair Stuart Mackinnon said in a press release.

Over the past four years, more than 3,000 elementary school students have completed Swim to Survive training at public pools across the city.

It’s estimated that half of Canadian children never take formal swimming lessons. While Swim to Survive is not a replacement for swimming lessons, it covers the basic skills needed to be safe around water and survive a fall into deep water — roll into deep water, tread water for one minute and swim 50 metres.

“The Lifesaving Society is pleased to again partner with the Vancouver Park Board to provide these important lifesaving skills to children and youth,” said Dale Miller, executive director of the Lifesaving Society B.C. and Yukon branch. “We see a continual decrease in the number of drownings in B.C. and we know that more Swim to Survive training will help to continue that trend.”

There have been 19 drownings reported in B.C. so far this year and it remains the second leading cause of preventable death in Canada.

For more information, or to register, visit vancouver.ca/swim-to-survive.

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com