Role and responsibilities
The role of the Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada is to provide "the facts" – the who, what, where, when and why of water-related incidents and injuries. The Centre provides useful data to organizations involved in water safety, drowning prevention, and search and rescue.
The Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada:
- Collects data and maintains a water-incident database related to fatal drowning, non-fatal drownings, significant injuries and responder interventions.
- Disseminates research data to media and relevant stakeholders including government.
- Undertakes primary research related to fatal and non-fatal drownings, significant injuries and responder interventions.
- Encourages and facilitates others to undertake research that will support drowning prevention strategies.
- Encourages the delivery of drowning prevention programs and public education campaigns.
History
The Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada, previously named the Water Incident Research Alliance (WIRA), was established in March 1999 as an alliance of the Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canadian Red Cross Society, City of Toronto, Lifesaving Society Canada, Ontario Provincial Police, and Parks and Recreation Ontario.
WIRA was incorporated as a non-profit organization on June 6, 2001 and approved by the Canadian federal government as a registered charity in May 2007. In 2010, WIRA was renamed the Drowning Prevention Research Centre Canada (DPRC). The DPRC operates today as an independent not-for-profit organization.
