SPREAD THE WORD ON NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH! Sadly, drowning continues to be the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-4. Drowning is fast and silent; it can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds. As swim school professionals, it is up to us to educate not only our customers, but our communities at large. May is Water Safety Month and a great opportunity to bring awareness about drowning prevention and the life-saving skill of swim lessons. We asked members of the Membership Connections Committee to share some of their ideas for spreading the word! Here are some of their thoughts: MILLER SWIM SCHOOL • Community education is key – preparing social media campaigns to help educate public on water safety • Increase “Think Safe” water safety presentations in local area schools and day cares • Distribute water safety check lists and “Signs of Struggling Swimmers” info graphics to current swim families. Also distribute graphics in newsletter that hits past and current swim families • Increase training for Instructors on safety/drowning prevention skills taught in classes • Local media (TV) demonstration on “reach, throw, never go,” and drowning prevention techniques • Ask The Expert column in local parenting magazine on drowning prevention and the importance of early aquatic education
SWIMAMERICA-DAVIS • Open house for city and county officials to “see us in action” helping prevent drowning • Passing out water watcher tags to current families • Providing information about back yard pool parties and how to keep everyone safe CHARLOTTE AQUATICS • Have students go on a “Water Safety Safari” hunting for water safety rules. • Provide handouts, signage, social media posts, newsletter information on drowning prevention and water safety. Include safety info on pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, rip tides, lake, and beach safety • Host an open house for community members to see what your facility looks like, provide water safety info, and a free swim test
NEW MEMBER LIST CHAMPION SWIM SCHOOL Pam Villa Ponte Vedra Beach, FL GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL – LAKEWOOD RANCH Bret Edwards Lakewood Ranch, FL GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL – WINTER PARK Gina Jacobs Thomas Winter Park, FL SAGUARO AQUATICS Josh Franklin Tucson, AZ WATERPROOF SWIM ACADEMY Gisela Morales Guatemala, GT WATER TOWN SWIM SCHOOL Eduardo Velasquez Atlantico, Columbia
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A3 | p34 Charlie Banana | p9 Counsilman-Hunsaker | p34 Cressi | p2 FINIS | Inside Front Cover
• Simulate falling into the pool and have children swim with their clothes on
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There are additional resources in the members resource section of the USSSA website, as well as, on the Stop Drowning Now website. As you can see, there is no lack of ideas on how to spread the word about water safety. Which ones will you try this May?
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Jackrabbit | p9 Pool & Spa Enclosures | p27 Risk Management | p4 Tri Net | p12 Tri Swim | p17
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