Drowning is still a significant problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death, killing about ten people per day. These recent statics are why water safety awareness and education is so important.
May is National Water Safety Month; it’s also a time when many are beginning to resume swimming season. In preparation, some aquatics industry organizations host events and ramp up learn-to-swim programs.
Here’s a look at a few programs taking place this year.
Paragon Pools Kicks off 14th Float Like A Duck Water Safety Program
Paragon Pools, a Las Vegas-based pool builder, has been promoting water safety with its Float Like A Duck campaign for 14 years now. Over the years, the campaign has grown and garnered support from the Mayor’s office, APSP, and manufacturers, including Zodiac and Pebble Technology International.
Duckie, the mascot, will appear at a free public event on Saturday, May 27 at the Heinrich YMCA in Las Vegas. The campaign’s mission is to teach the public about water safety and celebrate the joys and benefits of swimming and water sports. At the four-hour event, there will be activities, learn-to-float- classes and open swimming in the YMCA water park.
Speedo Joins Drowning Prevention Initiative
The swimwear brand is diving into water safety with the launch of Swim Generation, a global initiative aimed at helping to reduce accidental drowning worldwide. Through Swim Generation, Speedo will work with established charity partner organizations to help communities become water safe.
Speedo will provide donations in the form of its products and financial funding to charity partners, such as the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and Centre for Injury Prevention and Research Bangladesh (CIPRB).
Swimways Preps for 6th Annual National Learn to Swim Day
The outdoor recreation water products manufacturer will host its 6th Annual National Learn to Swim day on Saturday, May 20. Each year, Swimways holds the event on the third Saturday of May to raise awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim.
Swimway's campaign also has a dedicated website that provides water safety tips, learn-to-swim videos, and products to help families get ready for pool season. The site's event planning toolkit can be used by other organizations that want to host events in celebration of National Learn to Swim Day.
