This is the time of year where drowning is most likely to occur, and the City of Swift Current went in line with the province last night by proclaiming July 15 to 21 National Drowning Prevention Week.

City lifeguard Jesse Begin appeared before council, and reinforced the importance of educating people about safe practices around water.

When asked what a major way to prevent drownings is, Begin said since the number-one place for drowning is the lake, and small kids are particularly susceptible, parents should be close to their kids and lifejackets should be worn.

Swift Current's Fairview Pool - the one outside - will continue hosting a couple water-safety activities in the afternoons throughout the week.

Shelby Rushton - CEO of the Lifesaving Society's Saskatchewan branch - said last summer four people died in Lake Diefenbaker from drowning.

There were 462 drownings in Canada last year, and she said 20-22 usually occur in Saskatchewan.

"We really want people to be water smart, when you go in, on, or around the water whether you're just walking beside water, out on a boat, enjoying a day at the lake with your kids, you need to take precautions, and be aware that water is dangerous although it is also very fun," she said.

The Lifesaving Society has been doing drowning prevention weeks for over two decades, and Rushton said about 10 to 12 years ago the country was averaging around 600 drowning deaths a year.

Rushton said they're happy with the decline, but that there's still plenty of work to be done.

"We want to make people realize that drowning is preventable and that even one death from drowning, it's just too many."

She added they chose the third week in July for the drowning prevention week, since there are the most instances during this stretch. But she also said drowning isn't limited to the summer months, as people fall through ice in the winter, whether they're in a vehicle of some sort or not.

And with marijuana legalization coming on October 17, Rushton said that even though pot will be legal, it still impairs the user.

"Whether you're drinking, or doing that substance, you need to wait till you get back to shore or back from your swim."

She said a lot of drowning deaths included victims that had alcohol or illegal substances turn up in their coronary reports; although the Lifesaving Society does not have statistics for the number of victims with marijuana and no other substances in their systems.