Tag Archive for: NDPA2020

Hello, NDPA Conference Attendees & Supporters, 

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult and unprecedented time. As you know, the 2020 National Water Safety Conference is scheduled for April 6-9 in Fort Worth, TX. Given government regulations, employer travel restrictions, published public health recommendations, and participant safety, it is impossible to host our in-person conference in Fort Worth. Instead, we are excited to announce that we will be moving the 2020 National Water Safety Conference to a new and interactive virtual format to be held over the same dates. 

National Water Safety Conference

The NDPA Board of Directors has had extensive discussions over the past week due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we felt a responsibility to host our conference as it is the kick-off to the drowning prevention season and although unquantifiable, we know, saves lives.  We also felt it was our duty to our alliance members, supporters, and the nation as we fear drowning rates will dramatically increase as children and families will have extended time at home and potential exposure to water more than ever. Therefore, we mobilized quickly, reviewed our options and determined the best course of action.  

We as the NDPA, recognize the serious role our annual conference plays to support professionals, advocates, educators, parents, and all drowning prevention warriors in preparing for the upcoming season and have become equally excited to deliver the most value in a flexible and innovative way. 

We have expanded our conference team in the past few days to include experts and experienced individuals who will help us ensure we can successfully deliver you the best value possible. Yes, our upcoming conference will be different, just as many things are in our lives right now. While it is not possible for us to deliver the same in-person experience, we have come up with something as valuable that will allow many more people to “join” our conference than ever before. Our commitment to you is to work harder than ever to provide each of you with a meaningful and well executed event that provides exceptional educational opportunities.  

We will be providing more information about online participation and support in the coming days to attendees, speakers, and sponsors.
 ·      ATTENDEES: We will be communicating with you on a regular basis to inform you of our conference schedule and ways to make the most of your online participation.
·      SPEAKERS: We will be communicating with you in the next 48 hours to provide you with information about the delivery of your presentation. Please keep an eye out for further information via email.
·      EXHIBITORS/SPONSORS: We will be communicating with you by the end of this week regarding your options for virtual participation and adjusted benefits. 

Again, thank you for your continued patience during this time. We will have further information available for all participants in the coming days. We know that this is an extremely unusual and unprecedented time in the world. The NDPA will be working constantly to ensure we can provide the drowning prevention and water safety community with the most important education and connectivity possible. Thank you for helping us save lives! 

Best regards, 
Adam 

Adam B. Katchmarchi, Ph.D., EMT-B
Executive Director
National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA)
NDPA community Award

It is with great joy that the National Drowning Prevention Alliance announces the winners of the 2020 Community Lifesaver Awards in recognition for their work in drowning prevention and water safety on a community level. 

The NDPA Community Lifesaver Award’s purpose is to recognize and honor exceptional work in creating safer water, providing excellent services, and the outstanding difference said contributions have made in drowning prevention.

The recipients of this award are chosen from a pool of candidates nominated to the NDPA and voted on through the NDPA Facebook Page. Having been confirmed by the NDPA Executive Committee and Board of Directors, this year’s winners are:

Chris Carlson & John Moore, Ben Carlson Foundation

The influence and outreach of this organization is incredibly powerful in the local community and with drowning prevention advocates in Southern California. In addition to funding awards for students, the Foundation sponsors meaningful engagement between water safety advocates and the public through digital media, training sessions and conferences.

Chris Carlson, Melissa Sutton and John Moore
City of north richland hills

City of North Richland Hills

For their dedication to water safety and domino-effect influence in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. The City of NRH, along with city-run facilities, is deeply committed to drowning prevention and has implemented a well coordinated, city-wide program for water safety that is truly unprecedented.

Alexandra (Lexie) Nieri

For her work as a local and regional educator and leader for water safety for students with disabilities and successfully promotes the use of new drowning prevention trends or technologies.

Lexie Nieri
cloudy sky boat water

Mark Lavin Memorial Safety Foundation

For thirty years the Mark Lavin Safety Foundation has been internationally known for its expertise and experience in the prevention and treatment of boating (marine) related injury and illnesses, bio mechanics, Sports Medicine, and Marine Engineering.

Mayor Betsy Price

For her continued leadership in making Fort Worth a Water Safe Community by advancing drowning prevention awareness and education throughout North Texas.

Mayor Betsy Price
Noelle Singleton

Noelle Singleton

For her ability to teach and motivate swimmers of all age groups and abilities. Her organization, Afroswimmers is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in the sport.

The NDPA would like to thank all this year’s recipients for their continuous support and will be greatly honored to present this award at the awards ceremony to be held on Monday, April 6th during the 2020 National Water Safety Conference in Fort Worth, TX.

United, we can prevent the tragedy of drowning!  

NDPA Lifesaver Award

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is happy to announce that the winner of the 2020 Lifesaver of the Year Award is David Benjamin, Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

The NDPA Lifesaver of the Year Award’s purpose is to acclaim and honor exceptional work in the advancement of water safety and drowning prevention, recognizing an organization’s or individual’s commitment to safer water and the reduction of drowning and aquatic injury.

The recipient of this award is chosen from a pool of candidates nominated to the NDPA and voted on through the NDPA Facebook Page. Having been confirmed by the NDPA Executive Committee and Board of Directors, this year’s recipient is Founder and Director of the Great Lakes Rescue Project, David Benjamin for the dedication he has shown in continuing to fight endlessly to prevent drownings through education and advocacy. 

David Benjamin, Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.
David Benjamin, Director of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project.

The NDPA would like to thank Mr. Benjamin for his support and will be greatly honored to present this award at the awards ceremony to be held on Monday, April 6th during the 2020 National Water Safety Conference in Fort Worth, TX.

United, we can prevent the tragedy of drowning! 

NDPA Joins Water Safety USA

Water Safety USA is a roundtable of longstanding national nonprofit and governmental organizations with a strong record of providing drowning prevention and water safety programs, including public education.​

Water Safety USA logo
Be #WaterCautious. Prevent Unsupervised Access ​to Water

Water Safety USA’s mission is to empower people with resources, information, and tools to safely enjoy and benefit US aquatic environments. Its overarching approach is to engage in ongoing dialog aimed at improving the delivery of water safety information, tools and resources in such a way that their effectiveness is maximized.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance is happy to announce that as of December 2019, the NDPA is an official member of Water Safety USA. “The NDPA is thrilled to announce our membership of such an important collective effort to combat drowning and make water safer.” said NDPA executive director Dr. Adam Katchmarchi. “We are proud and honored to join the roundtable and closely with other Water Safety USA members to enhance the mission of the NDPA.”

According to Water Safety USA, they have managed to harness the individual identities of each of its members as well as their objectives and further their reach through collective and collaborative strategies that are meant to increase the impact and effectiveness of our water safety and drowning prevention efforts.

With great satisfaction the NDPA joins the roundtable of equals that is Water Safety USA confident in the fact that will help us reach our ultimate goal of substantially reducing the number of unintentional drowning incidents and deaths reported in the United States of America.