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Celebrating National Water Safety Month with NDPA

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Looking forward to upcoming vacations, time off, or fun in the sun? Don’t forget that this time of year is especially important to help raise awareness about the importance of water safety and drowning prevention! 

Drowning can happen quickly and when your guard is down, so whether you’re planning on going to the beach, the pool, or will be enjoying other water activities, it’s crucial to understand the risks and take the necessary precautions to keep you and your loved ones safe. 

What is Water Safety Month?

National Water Safety Month is an annual awareness campaign coordinated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance with support from the American Red Cross, National Drowning Prevention Alliance, National Recreation and Park Association, and World Waterpark Association.

Swim activity increases during the month of May, with many home and community pools now in regular use, camps welcoming new recruits, and beaches flooded with tourists and locals alike. 

Knowing this, the National Recreation and Park Association, along with the  World Waterpark Association (WWA), determined that more needed to be done in order to raise awareness about water safety.

What began as an annual week of water safety awareness flourished into a now month-long initiative aimed at reducing the amount of drowning tragedies across the globe. 

Swimming group with goggles for water safety month

Why Is Water Safety Month Important?

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death worldwide. It happens quickly and silently and is never what you think. Even non-fatal accidents can have devastating long-term effects. 

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), every year in the United States alone, there are an estimated 4,000 fatal accidental drownings (about 11 drowning deaths per day) and 8,000 non-fatal drownings (about 22 non-fatal drownings per day).

Our goal in reducing the number of drownings every year requires comprehensive education about water safety and drowning prevention shared by everyone. By partnering with other organizations, we have the opportunity to spread the message of drowning prevention on a much larger scale. Drowning can happen to anyone, and it takes awareness and support from all of us to prevent a tragedy. 

Diverse kids swimming for water safety month

5 Ways You Can Practice Water Safety This May

This month is dedicated to educating families and individuals on how to stay safe in and around water. There are so many ways to advocate for water safety, so we’ve narrowed it down! 

Here are 5 ways to celebrate water safety in your community:

  1. Encourage others to be Water Safety Champions!
    • Water Safety Champions are people dedicated to finding solutions and advocating for safe play and necessary precautions in and around water. By signing up, you can access exclusive free downloads, social content, printables, and other free resources in your Water Safety Champion toolkit.
  1. Educate your friends and family about water safety and drowning:
    • Learn water safety and drowning misnomers: Terms such as ‘dry,’ ‘wet,’ ‘near,’ ‘silent,’ and ‘secondary’ drowning are all misnomers that are commonly used in the media and should not be used when speaking of drowning incidents.
    • Know what drowning looks like: The body is vertical, with the head instinctively tilted back as the victim tries to keep the airways clear of water. Victims typically face shore in open waters like lakes, rivers, or beaches. There are signs of movement but no signs of progress in the water. Drowning is also silent, with the victim not able to call out for help. 70% of toddler drownings happen during non-swim times. 
  1. Learn and Practice the 5 Layers of Protection:
    • Barriers & Alarms
    • Supervision
    • Water Competency
    • Life Jackets
    • Emergency Preparation
  1. Use and share NDPAs resources:
    • Use our free water safety resources, like books, coloring pages, flashcards, pool signs, and blogs to help keep water safety at the top of your family’s mind this summer. 
  1. Sign the “End The Misinformation” letter:
    • Floatation devices can be a tricky subject, and the language used to market and advertise flotation devices is misleading and can cost a life. Read and sign the “End the Misinformation” letter to help stop the spread of misinformation regarding children’s flotation devices.

While these are just a few ways for you and your community to get involved with education and advocacy for water safety month, there are still so many more, and we’ve made it even easier with our toolkit! 

Water Safety Season Toolkit

Wondering how to encourage Water Safety awareness in your organization or community?

We’ve created the Water Safety Season Toolkit to make it easy for you to spread the word about water safety and drowning prevention!

Our Water Safety Season Toolkit is the ultimate resource for getting the word out about water safety and drowning prevention, especially during the busiest recreational water activity months of the year.

This free toolkit includes a variety of resources that individuals, businesses, and coalitions can easily use to increase awareness of water safety and share the 5 Layers of Protection with ease. 

The toolkit Includes the following resources: 

  • Full summer social media campaign complete with graphics, animations, and videos with sample copy, hashtag strategies, and posting dates. 
  • Social frames that can be used on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
  • A digital asset library that includes posters, infographics, checklists, and our Water Watcher Card. 
  • Sample Blogs ready to post to your site and other digital platforms that cover basic and simple water safety information.
  • NDPA’s Press and Media Guide is designed to provide you with tips and tricks for working with your local media and critical water safety information that can be shared with the media and the general public.
  • A sample government proclamation to help your community officially recognize water safety month and celebrate it in your communities.
  • An invitation to all users to join the NDPA Water Warrior Facebook Group–a private Facebook group for water safety advocates and professionals to connect, share, collaborate, and learn. The group currently has close to 1,600 members. 

You can access our toolkit at https://ndpa.org/toolkit/.

With the right education and training, we are steps closer to keeping our communities and families safe. Every step in the direction of advocating water safety is a step towards saving countless lives. This month, take some time to sit with your family and friends and empower them to take action in keeping everyone, especially your little ones, safe this summer and all year long! 

Be sure to follow the NDPA on our social media channels to follow along with our celebrations for National Water Safety Month @drownalliance.

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The Latest Update on the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan

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At the 2023 National Water Safety Conference, we received the most recent update on the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan (USNWSAP) from Steering Committee member Morag Makay, Director of Research representing Safe Kids Worldwide. 

Water is all around us – 7% of the territory in the United States is covered in water, and there are nearly 11 million swimming pools nationwide. Unfortunately, without evidence-based and effective strategies, much of the water surrounding us on a daily basis can cause unintentional aquatic injuries and drownings that might result in death or a severe life-changing disability.

The Steering Committee has been working closely to create this Plan, which will address the gaps in water safety research and how to implement solutions to water safety issues throughout the United States. 

Townhall Webinar conducted July 13, 2022, including progress then, a list of Blue-Ribbon Panel Members, and a Q&A session.

What is the U.S. National Water Safety Plan?

The World Health Organization recommends that all countries create a Water Safety Plan which addresses the nation’s drowning problem, so creating a Water Safety Plan for the U.S. is a big task! 

The Steering Committee that took on this challenge includes a passionate group of stakeholders and influencers in water safety, including groups like the AAP, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, YMCA of the USA, and many more. 

The U.S. National Water Safety Plan is a 10-year plan from 2023-2033, which consists of a four-stage development process:

Stage 1: Establish the scope and framework for supporting development and implementation.

Stage 2: Establish multi-sectoral working groups to develop action recommendations and identify critical evidence gaps with a communication strategy to engage stakeholders.

Stage 3: Obtain stakeholder feedback and convene a high-level expert panel to finalize the Plan. 

Step 4: Launch US National Water Safety Action Plan with guidance and tools to support the implementation. 

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USNWSAP Development timeline from the 2023 NWSC

Specifically, the USNWSAP focuses on evidence-based strategies and data, along with infrastructure to support the implementation of these recommendations: 

  • Data/Public Health Surveillance
  • Life Jackets/Personal Flotation Devices and Other Flotation
  • Water Safety/Water Competency/Swim Lessons
  • Supervision/Lifeguards
  • Rescue/CPR
  • Barriers/Entrapment and Electrical Safety 

The Steering Committee developed these strategies with high regard for values like closely following evidence and evaluation, equity, collaboration, and the local context to which water safety and drowning prevention apply. 

They started with the idea of making the USNWSAP a “model-base,” asking questions like “What should a model Water Safety State, Water Safety County, Water Safety City/Community look like?” and “What national level action would support efforts at other levels and increase equity and likelihood of success across the country?”

After going through the situational analysis phase of planning, the question then changed to “How can we engage and support subnational jurisdictions in developing evidence-informed, context-specific water safety plans?” 

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Recent Progress on the USNWSAP :  

For the Steering Committee to begin forming the Plan further, they needed to develop further resources and tools. 

By doing so, they were able to:

  • Conduct 100+ expert review recommendations and stakeholder surveys.
  • Hold Blue Ribbon Panel Meetings (Dec 2022 and Feb 2023) to review 23 recommendations, looking at the national implications and long-term needs of water safety and cross-cutting issues like:
    • The balance between aspiration and practicality
    • Addressing Equity
    • Stakeholder engagement
    • Monitoring
  • Hold final reviews of recommendations and draft the initial plan document.
  • Develop guidance on situational analysis by convening relevant stakeholders (e.g., aquatics, public health, healthcare, education, government, first responders, and child safety coalitions) to collect, review and discuss:
    • Prevalence of drowning and groups at high risk for drowning
    • When, where, and the circumstances under which fatal and non-fatal drownings occur
    • Aquatic environments, including specific hazards
    • The existence/absence of prevention/response efforts + resources to support prevention

With these formations, the Steering Committee can formally begin launch planning with anticipated goals for the future. 

Anticipated Goals for 2023 & 2024:

The latest U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan update includes several anticipated goals, especially in 2023. 

Anticipated Deliverables for Spring/Summer of 2023: 

  • U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan Document
  • U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan implications for the national minimum standards, model laws, and advocacy toolkits
  • Providing resources with comprehensive guidance on doing a situational analysis to support an action plan (Step 1) 

Anticipated Deliverables for Summer/Fall of 2023: 

  • Resource providing stepwise guidance on action plan development (Step 2) 
  • Online resource providing details on each recommendation to facilitate selection and implementation
  • Research agenda addressing identified gaps (Summer 2023)
national-water-safety-action-plan-swimmers

How You Can Get Involved With the US National Water Safety Action Plan:  

While the Steering Committee has been formed to guide the development of the Plan, it still takes all of us to create and execute the precautions needed to transform water safety for now and future generations to come. 

You can get involved by: 

  • Assisting by actively promoting and communicating the work being done for the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and participate in state, county, or local action planning.
  • Lead and participate in developing and communicating national water safety implications with guidance and resources.
  • Support advocacy efforts through funding, legislation, and policy.
  • Undertake research addressing identified evidence gaps in water safety and drowning prevention.

Drowning is preventable, but prevention wouldn’t be possible without those who are passionate and willing to learn and engage in simple actions to keep loved ones safe. 

For more information about the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan, email  info@usnwsap.org, and to learn more about how you can make a difference in drowning prevention, visit https://ndpa.org/support-ndpa/.

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The Latest Information on Water Safety and Drowning Prevention

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For many, water is a source of joy and memory – bringing together even the unlikeliest of pairs. However, water is an element that deserves our respect and attention. 

Drowning is a tragedy that can happen to anyone. Unfortunately, it is fast, silent, and often not what you would expect, so it’s essential to learn the latest available water safety and drowning prevention information.

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Data & Statistics on Drowning

The following data and research has been compiled over the past few years from sources such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), WHO (World Health Organization), and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics). Learning the latest drowning statistics is crucial to understanding how drowning can affect anyone and its impact on society.

General Drowning Statistics:

  • Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of injury-related death for children up to age 14. 
  • There is an average of 4,012 unintentional drowning deaths per year.
  • Drowning remains among the top four causes of death from age 54 and up.
  • The U.S. experiences an average of 11 fatal drownings per day and an average of 22 non-fatal drownings per day.
  • More than 40% of drownings treated in the Emergency Department require hospitalization, transfer, or further care (compared with 8% of all unintentional injuries). Outcomes of morbidity include brain damage, other serious outcomes, and long-term disability.
  • Drowning costs the U.S. Economy $51.53 billion per year.
  • Drowning is fast and silent. It can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds.
  • Nearly 80% of drowning deaths are among males due to increased exposure to water, risk-taking behaviors, and alcohol use.
  • Based on data from 2020, unintentional drowning deaths between ages 20-24 have increased by 44%, and ages 25-29 have increased by 29%.

Drowning Statistics on Children:

  • 88% of child drownings occur with at least 1 adult present.
  • We lose 10 school buses worth of children to unintentional drownings per year, with the average school bus seating 80 students, resulting in an average of 854 children per year.
  • For every child that dies from drowning, another 7 to 8 receive emergency department care for non-fatal drowning. Almost 70% of drownings of young children occur during non-swim.
  • Two out of three drowning incidents that take place in the home occur in a bathtub.
  • 23% of child drownings happen during a family gathering near a pool.

Racial & Ethnic Groups Drowning Statistics

  • In swimming pools, Black children ages 10-14 years drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White children.
  • Black children and youth are more likely to drown in public pools, and white children and youth are more likely to drown in residential pools.
  • Drowning death rates for American Indian or Alaska Native people ages 29 and younger are 2 times higher than the rates for White people, with the highest disparities among those ages 25-29 (rates 3.5 times higher).
  • Drowning death rates for Black people are 1.5 times higher than the rates for White people. Disparities are highest among Black children ages 5-9 (rates 2.6 times higher) and ages 10-14 (rates 3.6 times higher).

Drowning Statistics on People With Disabilities/Medical Conditions

  • People with seizure disorders such as epilepsy are at a higher risk of fatal and non-fatal drowning than the general population. Other conditions, such as autism and heart conditions, are also associated with a higher risk of drowning.
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Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Internal Resources

We offer a wide range of resources at the NDPA to assist you in learning about the latest water safety and drowning prevention efforts across various industries, including residential pools and spas, commercial aquatics, pediatrics, and resources for parents and caregivers.

Some of our best internal resources for water safety and drowning prevention include:

NDPA’s ‘Learn the 5 Layers of Protection’ Animated Video

Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Industry Updates

With recent research findings, water safety legislation, and awareness campaigns currently circulating in the water safety industry, there are many areas of expertise to be mindful of. Only together can we reduce the incidence of drowning and aquatic injuries.  

The following resources are key items to utilize when keeping up to date with the latest water safety and drowning prevention industry: 

Drowning is Preventable!

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is dedicated to preventing the tragedies of unintentional childhood drownings and aquatic injuries through research, education, and advocacy initiatives. 

Drowning is a complex problem, but it is preventable.

Prevention starts with awareness, education, and implementation of the latest water safety and drowning prevention efforts, statistics, and resources. 

Water safety and drowning prevention is a lifelong endeavor, but it can save a life.

Join the alliance today and help us make a difference in ending drowning and aquatic-related injuries!

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How You Can Influence Stakeholders for Water Safety Legislation to Prevent Drownings

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During the cold winter months, you may not think about going in the water much, but that doesn’t mean your water safety efforts and education should stop.

Drowning is a public health crisis and an economic problem that will not change unless more water safety policies and legislation are put into effect throughout our communities. Through the 2020 CDC WISWARS Cost of Injury Module, drownings (both fatal and nonfatal) cost the U.S. Economy $53.53 billion per year.

We are Not Powerless When Addressing the Tragedies of Drowning

Advocating for more water safety legislation and drowning prevention efforts in our local and state governments is essential to help change the number of drownings across the U.S.

Drowning has a startling ripple effect, which can have a lifetime effect on the victim’s family, friends, and community members. However, many people may not publicly advocate for water safety legislation because they might not know where to start.

To make things easier for those who want to advocate for water safety action and those interested in improving how their community prevents drowning incidents and other aquatic injuries, here are some tips that can be used as a guide.

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1. Look at Your Local and State Level Water Safety Legislation Laws
Before approaching community members with water safety legislation, educating yourself is critical.  Become familiar with the water safety issues around you and learn more about water safety education by implementing the 5 Layers of Protection.

Educating yourself and those around you about water safety is a lifelong endeavor, so stay up to date with the latest research and evidence-based drowning prevention strategies through your state’s water safety legislation. 

All states have different laws, codes, and regulations around public health and information on pools, hot tubs, and splash pads, so use the following resources below to read about local and state-level water safety legislation initiatives that are currently in effect: 

2. How to Advocate for Water Safety Legislation to Policy Makers

By learning about the latest laws, codes, and regulations, you will be able to become more active in your community to make a difference. Working your way up is a great way to start advocating for water safety legislation efforts.

Attending local government meetings to discuss community issues like fencing ordinances to provide barriers for homes with pools and spas or recommending pool and spa covers to homeowners with water features can help reduce aquatic-related incidents. Always advocate for all five layers of protection, as one water safety strategy may not be enough to save a life.

When you create lasting relationships with your local officials by regularly participating in community meetings, you provide the necessary information to make positive changes for your community, city, and even state.

Without the support of engaged and dedicated water safety advocates, reducing the number of drownings wouldn’t be possible. Without those to share and advocate for water safety, U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) wouldn’t have been able to become a Water Safety Champion and rally to support the reauthorization of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act). 

Other ways you can help advocate for water safety include: 

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U. S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) Receiving Lighthouse Award and Becoming a Water Safety Champion

3. Empower Your Community to Help Prevent Drowning with Water Safety Legislation

When it comes to the health and safety of children, empowering your community to rally against drowning and aquatic injuries is as simple as ‘gimmie 5’:

  1. Installing barriers & alarms to help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water unsupervised.
  2. Close, constant, and capable supervision anytime children are in or around water.
  3. Learning water competency and basic swim skills.
  4. Wear life jackets appropriately, especially around open water.
  5. Learning emergency preparation skills like CPR and fast action to call 911.

Each of these 5 Layers must work together, so teaching members of your community significantly impacts those around you.
Make access to water safety education simple and easy to access. Follow the NDPA’s social feeds for social media posts to share or access your Resource Kit after becoming a Water Safety Champion. Always be open to sharing resources to spread drowning prevention awareness to your friends, family, and community.

It Takes a Village to Advocate for Water Safety Legislation

With water safety legislation, we can make a difference in drowning prevention, but it takes more than one person to create change for the greater good. Drowning prevention is more than educating parents about water safety.

By becoming more aware of the dangers water can present to our communities and utilizing the best water safety strategies, we can make a difference in preventing future drowning and aquatic injuries. 


To join the fight for more water safety legislation for drowning prevention in our communities, visit NDPA.org/support-ndpa/.

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6 Water Safety Tips To Help Save A Life This Summer

NDPA Joins National Water Safety Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(OVERLAND PARK, KS) – As families converge on aquatic centers, pools, splash pads, waterparks, and open bodies of water for recreational water activities this Memorial Day weekend, it is vital to ensure safety is a priority for all people. The National Water Safety Month campaign supporters offer six important tips and reminders for parents and caregivers about safer water practices.

As you enjoy time in and around water this summer, keep these six water safety tips in mind:

  1. Capable & Constant Supervision – Actively supervise children and non-swimmers around the water, even when lifeguards are present. Don’t just drop kids off. Avoid distracting activities such as checking email or social media. Drowning is quick and silent.
  2. Water Competency – No matter your age, learning to swim and survive in the water is one of the best ways to be safer in and around the water.
  3. Prevent Unsupervised Access To Water –Barriers and alarms help prevent access to water during non-swim times. Almost 70% of toddler drownings occur during non-swim times. Four sided fencing with a self-closing self-latching gate helps prevent unplanned access.
  4. Swim With A Buddy – Do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system.
  5. Wear A Life Jacket – Adults and kids should always wear a properly-fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while boating. Non-swimmers and inexperienced swimmers should also always wear a life jacket when in and around the water. Inflatable toys can be fun but are not a substitute for U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
  6. Be Prepared For Emergencies – Learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies by learning CPR.

About National Water Safety Month

National Water Safety Month is a joint effort of the American Red Cross, the National Recreation and Park Association, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and the World Waterpark Association. Joining the NWSM partnership in 2022 is the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of drowning and preventing tragedy around water.

These organizations honor National Water Safety Month in May, along with thousands of aquatics facilities and professionals, through educational programs, public service announcements, governmental proclamations, dealer and aquatics business promotions and the distribution of water-safety-themed materials, aimed primarily at the public and designed to help prevent drowning and water-related illness and injuries. 

Detailed information and free resources in support of National Water Safety Month, for both consumers and businesses, can be found at www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org. Connect with National Water Safety Month on Facebook (@watersafetymonth).

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Aleatha Ezra
Director of Park Member Development
World Waterpark Association
aezra@waterparks.org

Cort Jones
Communications Manager
National Recreation and Park Association
cjones@nrpa.org

Don Lauritzen
Communications Officer
American Red Cross
media@redcross.org  

Laura Metro
Marketing & Communication Director
National Drowning Prevention Alliance
Laura.metro@ndpa.org

Jessica Howard
Vice President, Marketing
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
jhoward@phta.org

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The NDPA Resource Center Is Live!

Learning is a continuous process that is incredibly important in the water safety space, allowing us to stay up to date on current news, research and numbers. Learning not only happens in traditional settings such as workshops and training courses, but also through discussions with colleagues, sharing practical experience, and consulting newsletters, books, published research papers and audiovisual materials. 

The NDPA Resource Center strives to improve access to relevant information by collecting, categorizing and organizing materials that are useful to all members of the aquatics industry and drowning prevention advocates.

This new and exciting tool contains the following features:

  • NDPA Partner Directory
  • Drowning Prevention & Water Safety Resource Directory
  • Sharable Drowning Prevention Social Media Content
  • Resources for Task Forces & Coalitions
  • An Index of Drowning Prevention & Water Safety Literature containing over 300 entries
  • An Index of over 60 Regional, State, and National Water Safety, Drowning, and Injury Databases
  • NDPA & National Water Safety Conference Media Library

and so much more exclusively for NDPA Members.

Basic members enjoy the following benefits:

  • Use of the NDPA Member Logo.
  • Listed in NDPA Member directory.
  • Receive ALL NDPA Communications including the newsletter.
  • Free access to resources from the NDPA and our Partners.
  • Show your clients, friends, and family that you are part of the alliance to prevent drowning.
  • Task Force & Coalition Resources
  • Advocacy Information
  • Over 100 shareable drowning prevention social media images, infographics, and videos.

The following are the benefits reserved for Premium members:

  • $50 off 1 conference registration at Early Bird or Regular Rate.
  • Use of NDPA Member Logo.
  • Newsletter and communication subscription.
  • Free access to resources from the NDPA and our Partners.
  • Prime listing in NDPA Member directory.
  • Show your clients, friends, and family that you are part of the alliance to prevent drowning.
  • All Basic Member Benefits
  • NDPA Member & Partner Directory Access
  • Access to our Drowning Literature Directory that includes an index of over 300 research studies, reports, and other literature.
  • Access to our Drowning Data Hub that provides easy access to over 60 drowning and injury databases from across the United States.
  • Access to the NDPA Premium Video library that includes all past NDPA Webinars, select conference presentations, and more!

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Water Safety Educational Resources

water safety educational resources

Why is having access to water safety educational resources so important?

Because teaching kids, teens and even adults how to be safe near and in the water as well as what to do if anything ever goes wrong is paramount to prevent unintentional drowning incidents, both fatal and non-fatal. 

The following water safety educational resources have been designed to offer proper guidance in the matter and can be added to any school or homeschool curriculum.

Stop Drowning Now

The Safer 3 in the classroom

Stop Drowning Now’s Water Safety Curriculum teaches kids how to recognize drowning risks and to protect themselves and others. The Curriculum is specifically designed for young kids’ learning needs. Through an experiential approach, kids participate in the discovery and identification process, and learn preventative measures as well as emergency responses.

Water Safety In The Classroom

Water Safety in the Classroom is designed to help educators to teach water safety to children ages 2-14. All the methods discussed in this course are appropriate for teaching in a classroom setting, no pool or access to water is required.

Water Safety With Colin & Friends

Water Safety With Colin & Friends is a comprehensive water safety education tool. The classroom-based curriculum focuses on 5 key rules that can help children make safer choices around all types of water, such as waiting for an adult before going in or near water and wearing a life jacket. The full kit includes activities like songs, water safety games, and even a science experiment. The program is evidence-based, continues to be evaluated for efficacy, and has been proven with statistical significance to increase children’s water safety knowledge!

Teach Water Safety With Colin & Friends!

Colin’s Hope has also launched a new website that offers FREE water safety education lessons in English and Spanish to parents, caregivers, teachers, swim instructors, camp counselors and children. Curriculum resources can be downloaded and taught or users can watch videos online and use the interactive and digital curriculum and let the Colin’s Hope team teach each lesson. Two lessons have been launched so far, with new lessons launching each month.

Home

Kidshealth In The Classroom

KidsHealth in the Classroom by Nemours offers educators free health-related lesson plans for PreK through 12th grade. Each Teacher’s Guide includes discussion questions, classroom activities and extensions, printable handouts, and quizzes and answer keys all aligned to National Health Education Standards.

For water safety educational resources search under Personal Health.

Josh The Otter Water Safety & Awareness Project

Drowning is preventable. Teach this life-saving message.


Demonstrate the importance of water safety with Josh the Baby Otter. This guide will help you educate young children about drowning prevention through a fun and interactive classroom activity.

Pool Safely Educational Materials

Pool Safely’s Educational Materials make it simple to share information about water safety that could save a life. Distribute the variety of items at public pools and spas and share them with friends and neighbors.

Water Smart Education Toolkit

Curriculum materials to teach Water Safety have been developed by Royal Life Saving Australia together with education resource specialists, teachers and water safety instructors.

The teaching resources in the Water Smart education toolkit outline appropriate learning outcomes and have taken into consideration the new Australian National Curriculum for all years from Foundation to Year 10. The key components of the resource toolkit include Units of Work, Teachers Notes, Activity Sheets, Safety Tips and Supplementary Resources.

Curriculum Swimming and Water Safety Resource Pack

Swim England and the Swim Group have created a resource pack for all those involved in the delivery of curriculum swimming and water safety.

The resource pack has been split into four to provide dedicated information for each  group. Each section provides practical guidance on how to plan, deliver and report on curriculum swimming and water safety.

Curriculum Swimming and Water Safety Resource Pack

Water Safety Resources 

Teachers Pay Teachers is a great database for educators to find the resources, knowledge, and inspiration they need to teach at their best. They offer more than 3 million free and paid resources, created by educators who understand what works in the classroom and have a great selection of water safety materials that can be used in the classroom for kids from PreK to 12th grade.

Water safety resources for teachers

Water Safety for Kids

The American Red Cross offers resources to help your child learn about water safety while having fun in and around water.

Find more resources and materials on the NDPA Resource Center.

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2020 Upcoming Industry Events

2020 Events

The ultimate goal of the following events is to bring together professionals and supporters from all aspects of aquatics and drowning prevention to network, advocate, educate, improve, and expand the entire industry in the country.

World Aquatic Health Conference

The World Aquatic Health Conference is the industry’s leading educational conference on aquatics. Celebrating its 17th year, WAHC 2020 will continue the tradition of disseminating cutting edge science relevant to all segments of the pool and spa market.

Join virtually on October 15-16 to experience cutting-edge aquatic research presented by industry experts across the globe and network with like-minded professionals, industry leaders and experts.

USSSA National Conference

Come together virtually September 15-17, 2020 with top notch industry speakers, fellow members, industry partners, and friends at this year’s USSSA National Conference! The agenda is comprised of live sessions, on-demand sessions, and interactive workshops. 

Although this year’s conference is different than years past, it is not one to be missed! 

WWA 40th Anniversary Symposium & Trade Show

Join fellow waterpark owners, operators, developers, designers and suppliers for the WWA’s 40th Anniversary Symposium & Trade Show, October 6-9, 2020, at Caesars Forum Conference Center & Harrah’s Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

The trade show will be located at the all new Caesars Forum Conference Center, which is located behind the High Roller in the LINQ Promenade area. The headquarters hotel will be Harrah’s Las Vegas, which is connected to the Caesars Forum Conference Center.

The WWA Show continues to be the water leisure industry’s most popular market place for the waterpark industry, as it offers the following opportunities for professional growth and development. To review complete details about the show or to register, click below. 

The International Pool, Spa and Patio Expo

The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, co-located with DeckExpo (PSP/DeckExpo), is reimagining this year’s event.

The decision to transition the event was not reached easily, however, based on feedback and the support of the community, the organization felt it was the right choice for their partners, sponsoring associations, attendees, and exhibitors. The virtual event will be hosted over the same dates, November 11 – 13, with registration opening later this fall. 

If you have an event the NDPA should be aware of, let us know in a comment!

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New PSA From Abbey’s HOPE Offers Chilling, Timely Reminder

Abbey's Hope PSA

The water safety non-profit reminds parents and caregivers to avoid distracted supervision around pools.

MINNEAPOLIS—There’s a perfect storm of circumstances conspiring against adults’ ability to keep kids safe around pools and lakes this summer. Electronic devices continue to dominate our attention. And the COVID-19 pandemic has more adults working from home and supervising their children at the same time. For those with backyard pools, this poses an especially significant danger which has been brought to life in a chilling PSA from Abbey’s Hope.

The 30-second spot, “Watch Me!” features an all-too familiar scene: a distracted mom on the phone, laptop open as her young child splashes in the water, clamoring for her attention. What happens next is summed up by a provocative message superimposed on screen: “88% of child drownings occur with an adult nearby. 100% of those adults will never forgive themselves.” The spot concludes by inviting the viewer to become a Water Watchdog, which is an active supervision program started by Abbey’s Hope. To date, nearly 10,000 people have registered to take the pledge and receive their iconic Abbey’s Hope Water Watchdog ‘dog tag,’ a tangible reminder of the need to be vigilant when supervising children around water.

“It’s sadly ironic that we often tell our kids that we’re watching them, when we’re not,” said Katey Taylor, who along with husband Scott Taylor, founded Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation in response to the tragic death of their daughter, Abbey, following a pool drain entrapment incident in 2007. Taylor added, “Vigilant supervision has never been more important or required greater discipline, given the world we live in.”

 Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages one to four.  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 379 pool- or spa-related fatal drownings reported per year for 2015 through 2017, involving children younger than 15 years of age.  The vast majority of those deaths were to children ages 4 and under.

The PSA will launch 7/20/20 on social media and is free to use and can be accessed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZgSYeaUqWc  It also will be broadcast on local television during the summer months when pool and lake usage is at its peak. 

About Abbey’s Hope:
Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation is a Minnesota nonprofit organization named after Abbey Taylor, the Edina, Minn., six-year-old who died in 2008 as a result of injuries sustained by an improperly maintained pool drain cover. 

The Foundation’s goal is to: 

●      Promote awareness of, and education, related to child safety issues, including educating pool owners, operators, inspectors, and the general public about the dangers of pool entrapment, evisceration and drowning and the need for physical inspections of pool equipment.

●      Work with the pool and spa industry to improve the design of its products, packaging and warning labels, and assist in the development of product safety standards related to such products.

●      Identify and provide support and assistance to organizations and programs that help educate parents, children, and pool and spa manufacturers about the prevention of entrapment and traditional forms of drowning.  

Find out more about Abbey’s Hope at https://www.abbeyshope.org/

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Alison Petri
Program Manager
Abbey’s Hope Foundation
952.303.5421763.331.1899(cell)
alison@abbeyshope.org

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TEAM WLSL™ Adding Virtual Events to Provide Water Safety Tips and Tools for Parents and Kids at Home

Team WLSL adding virtual events

Facebook Live events begin at 10 AM CDT on July 16th with resources to help parents bridge the water safety knowledge gap for kids that can’t participate in traditional swim lessons due to COVID-19.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., July 14, 2020 – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers for the 2020 World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (#WLSL2020) are reaching out virtually on July 16th to offer tips, resources, information and guided lessons that parents can do with kids at home. The online event is in addition to local lessons that are taking place at a limited number of locations.

3-time Olympic gold medalist, ESPN and NBC Sports analyst and WLSL ambassador, Rowdy Gaines, helps a young swimmer get comfortable in the water during a World's Largest Swimming Lesson event at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon.
3-time Olympic gold medalist, ESPN and NBC Sports analyst and WLSL ambassador, Rowdy Gaines, helps a young swimmer get comfortable in the water during a World’s Largest Swimming Lesson event at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.
A young swimmer works on opening her eyes underwater during the World's Largest Swimming Lesson. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin as early as age 1. Parents can work to introduce good water safety habits and start building swim readiness skills at home.
A young swimmer works on opening her eyes underwater during the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin as early as age 1. Parents can work to introduce good water safety habits and start building swim readiness skills at home.

Dozens of nationally recognized water safety and training organizations support the WLSL event each year. With day camps canceled and the delayed/limited opening of pools and waterparks this summer, TEAM WLSL is sharing their expertise with families at home to help bridge the gap for kids that have not been able to participate in traditional swim lessons.

Per the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, accounting for 7 percent of all injury-related deaths worldwide. In the U.S., drowning remains the leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 4, and the second leading cause for children under 14.

This year, as families head to the backyard and open water environments without the benefit of lifeguards or swim instructors, it appears drowning rates are increasing. In response, TEAM WLSL organizers are urging parents to take advantage of a wealth of free online resources to learn more about water safety and drowning prevention.

“Safety is always the first priority for our aquatics community,” said Rick Root, President, World Waterpark Association.  “And, working to help families access water safety and learn to swim resources is more important than ever in our current environment. Whether they participate at a live WLSL event in their community or join us online, we want kids to learn how to Be Water Aware and parents to understand the crucial importance of learning to swim as a key layer of protection for drowning prevention.”

About The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™
TEAM WLSL® was created by the World Waterpark Association as a platform for the aquatics industry to build awareness about the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning. WLSL events have provided more than 159,000 hours of water safety training around the globe. Since its inception in 2010, more than 319,000 children and adults at 4,548 locations in 48 countries have participated in local WLSL lessons and the Swimming Lessons Save Lives™ message has been shared more than two billion times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsYmk9iN1zI

Contact: 
Aleatha Ezra
243433@email4pr.com
Phone: 913-599-0300

SOURCE World Waterpark Association