Water Safety and Drowning Prevention
It’s more than handing out brochures and hanging up signs.
all accidental drowning deaths can be prevented.
To prevent drowning deaths and aquatic related injuries from occurring, a range of community-based actions are required including education, behavior change, legislation, engineering and technology solutions, in addition to learning to swim. These solutions form the basis of our Water Safety Initiatives. We offer education of parents and care givers about how they can keep their children safe, community events to raise awareness of water safety, and thru our partnerships reduce fee or free swim lessons for eco-nomically or social disadvantaged youth.
Thru strategic alliances and partnerships with similarly focused organizations like National Drowning and Prevention Alliance (NDPA), Diversity In Aquatics (DIA), Kids Health .Org, Center for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and others we have developed a community water safety & education initiative, aimed at reducing accidental drowning's. These initiatives listed below are each designed to meet the needs of different segments of a community creating a a community wide water safe environment.
National Water Safety Month: In recognition of the popularity of swimming and other water-related recreational activities in the United States, and the resulting need for ongoing public education on safer water practices. National Water Safety Month is celebrated each May through educational programs, public service announcements, governmental proclamations, dealer and business promotions and the distribution of water-safety-themed materials.
April Pools Day: This event for families and community members, celebrates a communities pools and includes a combination of water safety activities, in water events, and free swim time and the every popular Life Vest Fashion Show.
World’s Largest Swim Lesson: Every year the nation's top water safety and training organizations join forces to present The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL), to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning. The WLSL was created to serve as a platform to help local community aquatic facilities and the many different national, regional and state wide water safety and drowning prevention organizations work together to tell this important story on a local and national level.
Make A Splash: Thru a partnerships with USA Swimming Foundations Make A Splash, Chicago Southland Aquatics Foundation and local Parks Departments and School Districts which allow us to offer reduced or free swim lesson for economically or social disadvantaged youth.
Josh the Otter Water Safety & Awareness Project: Goal is to educate children to stay away from water unless accompanied by an adult. “Josh the Baby Otter” was created to help children comprehend and remember the important message of water safety with an in-class presentation, color book, song and visit from Josh the baby Otter.
Jr. Life Guard Club: Youth club for children 9 years and older, focused on fun, fitness, community service, and community safety, while learning skills to become life guards.
Safer 3 Water Safety Challenge: an annual event that has been held to promote water safety. The event is typically held in the spring as a kick-off to the drowning prevention season. The event serves as a way to promote the Safer 3 message to the greater community, showcase what students are learning in the pool, involve the local water safety groups and secure media coverage for all of the above.
