As part of National Recreation and Parks Association’s (NRPA) Park and Recreation Month, we continue our celebration of The Power Of campaign. Parks and Recreation has the power to bring people together, strengthen health and build more inclusive communities. Our team at the WAWM Recreation & Community Services Department sees The Power Of recreation every day. Today we’re highlighting The Power Of Water Safety.
This summer, nearly 300 participants, ages 2 to 38, completed our American Red Cross group and private swim lesson programs. In our swim lessons, our trained water safety instructors teach essential swim skills such as floating, front crawl, and treading water, but also water safety topics and skills, including lifejacket safety. Additionally, our instructors follow the American Red Cross “WHALE (Water Habits Are Learned Early) Tales” water-safety curriculum, which teaches new swimmers how to recognize risks and make safer choices in, on, or around water.
This water safety education is critical, because according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), drowning is a leading cause of death in the United States, and children ages 1 to 4 are at the greatest risk.
- Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 years.
- Drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children and adults with autism.
- People with autism spectrum disorder are nearly 40 times as likely to die from drowning as compared to the general population.
- Among children 5 to 14 years, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death behind motor vehicle crashes.
Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests formal swimming lessons are an important way to reduce drowning risk among children and young adults. Emphasizing the importance of early swim instruction, the ADA reports swim lessons may help reduce the risk of drowning by 88% in the United States for children ages 1 to 4.
Our swim lesson programs are a great, affordable resource for the WAWM community. While research shows children benefit greatly from starting formal swimming lessons at a young age, it’s never too late for anyone to learn to swim. Whether you’re a teenager, adult or senior citizen, swim lessons can help build the confidence and skills necessary to enjoy the water safely.
Let’s meet some of our WAWM Aquatic Staff team members.
Sam, one of our dedicated Water Safety Instructors, has been on our team since 2023. She boasts great experience teaching all levels of swim instruction, from Parent & Child classes to Levels 7 and 8, as well as, private swim lessons. She is comfortable connecting with students who may be nervous to enter the water, as well as those without fear who may need to focus on water safety elements before jumping in. When asked what Sam loves about our program, she mentioned the inclusivity of our private swim lessons that allow children who need that individualized attention to have an opportunity to learn in a one-on-one setting. Sam strives to share the importance of water safety with parents in her Parent/Child swim classes by emphasizing the necessity of using Coast Guard-approved lifejackets and wearing specific swimsuit colors for safer visibility in the pool.
Leon has served as a lifeguard for us the past two years, and we are excited to share that this summer he became certified as a Water Safety Instructor as well. His journey in aquatics started in the same pools he is now teaching the children of the WAWM community. It may only be his first summer teaching water safety, but he is already making an impact on the young swimmers in his classes. During his Level 1 swim lesson, his class worked on skills related to the American Red Cross WHALE Tales’ “Think Twice Before Going Near Cold Water or Ice” training. All participants were fitted with lifejackets, practiced safe jumping skills and learned how to position their bodies when floating in cold water awaiting rescue. Water safety education is extremely important because these skills could save children’s lives if they were to ever fall out of a boat or through thin ice. It’s our hope that in a time of panic, they may think back to the water safety skills that were introduced to them from their swim lessons.
Sam’s commitment to water safety has made a lasting impact on so many swimmers and their families. Leon’s love for teaching our community the importance of water safety greatly impacts the well-being of members of our community, both young and old. Water safety education is essential, and we are grateful for the dedication of our Aquatics team members who share why The Power of Water Safety is important each and every day! Stay tuned for more featured articles this upcoming year as we focus on The Power Of recreation and how it impacts our department.
To learn more about our aquatics offerings, please reach out to Kristen Schmalfeldt at 414-604-4938 or email [email protected].