The Lifesaving Society Challenges Ontarians to Swim to

							                                                                   MEDIA RELEASE
                                                                    For immediate release

  The Lifesaving Society Challenges Ontarians to Swim to Survive

   Swim to Survive Challenge Kicks Off on Drowning Prevention Day This Saturday
                                  Across Ontario
Toronto, ON – July 20, 2006 - From July 22 to September 4, 2006, the Lifesaving
Society is challenging Ontarians to participate in the Swim to Survive Challenge to see
if they can survive an unexpected fall into deep water.
The Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive program outlines the minimum standard of
swimming ability necessary for survival. The program focuses on achieving a single
skill sequence (roll into deep water, tread water for one minute and swim 50 metres)
and can be taught in as little as three hours.
“We are excited to see kids and adults of all ages participate in the Lifesaving Society’s
Swim to Survive Challenge,” says Barbara Byers, Public Education Director for the
Lifesaving Society, Canada’s lifeguarding experts. “Today’s challenge will help us
raise money so we can teach every child the important life skills needed to survive an
unexpected fall into deep water.”
Through the challenge, the Lifesaving Society hopes to raise awareness of water
safety and raise funds so that every child in Ontario has the opportunity to Swim to
Survive. The challenge will see the general public, lifeguards, swim instructors, pool
managers and aquatic staff come together and participate. Each participant is
encouraged to rally support and sponsors to help raise the minimum $10.00 to
participate.

Each $30.00 donation will provide the opportunity for one child in Ontario to learn the
basic survival skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into water.
The upcoming Swim to Survive Challenge is broken-up into varying degrees of
difficulties:


Challenge A
   •   Roll, tread water for one minute and swim 50 metres
Challenge B
   •   Roll, tread water for five minutes and swim 100 metres
Challenge C
   •   Roll, tread water for 10 minutes and swim 500 metres


                                        - MORE -
Swim to Survive Challenge Kicks Off on Drowning Prevention Day this Saturday across
Ontario …/2

How to participate:

To register in the Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive Challenge or to obtain more
information please contact Kelly Manoukas at kellym@lifeguarding.com.

Photo editor note:

Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive Challenges will be happening in communities
across Ontario from July 22 to September 4, 2006. To review a challenge in your area
please visit the Lifesaving Society’s website at www.lifesavingsociety.com or contact
Kelly Manoukas at kellym@lifeguarding.com or (416) 490-8844.

For more information or to book an interview with Kelly Manoukas, please
contact:


Jennifer Meneses                              Kelly Manoukas
PraxisPR                                      The Lifesaving Society
905-949-8255 ext.221                          416-490-8844
416-898-5809 (cell)                           416-628-7447 ext. 1 (cell)
jennifer@praxispr.ca                          kellym@lifeguarding.com
                                          - 30 -