Number of Participants: 2
Hours Donated: 10
Value of Time Served: $169
Event Type: Health & Safety
Sport: Swimming
Date: May 5, 2023
Location:
Durfee High School Athletic Fields
360 Elsbree Street, Fall River
MA
About:
“We run a learn to swim program here at Durfee 6 days a week, our commitment to water safety for our community sees our athletes teaching swim lessons to kids in the greater Fall River area between the ages of 3-13. This month we are providing information to families about water safety in addition to our normal programming. My program has a lot of enthusiastic students that teach and lifeguard and also doesn’t just include students from my swim/dive team, but I have many athletes from other programs that have learned to teach and lifeguard also.” Christopher Poliseno — Head Coach- Swimming and Diving
May marks the season when aquatic usage is on the rise. As we gear up for the spring and into the summer months many people will be hanging by the pool, lake, or beach!
Unfortunately, during this time we also see a rise in aquatic incidences.
According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, around 4,000 fatal drowning accidents happen every year (about 11 every day) and 8,000 non-fatal incidences all just in the United States!
About 88% of the time these happen with an adult present, while 70% of drowning incidences happen during non-swimming times.
Some Facts about Drowning Awareness:
- Drowning is the #1 preventable death among children 1-4 years of age.
- Keeping children safe from drowning is a team effort.
- Misinformation about floatation devices increase the risks of drowning, there is no floatation device that is guarantied to prevent drowning, when children use these devices and parents take their eyes off the water (assuming safety) drowning incidences increase!
- “I don’t have to watch the water if a lifeguard is present” is a common phrase heard at aquatic facilities all over the country. The truth is, it is impossible for lifeguards to see the whole pool all at the same time, they are trained to scan the area. It is important for parents and family members to watch their children and alert a lifeguard to danger if it is not recognized right away.
- Drowning is silent. Most drownings don’t cause much noise and can happen in as fast as 30 seconds!
- Drowning can happen anywhere. Many accidental drownings happen when you aren’t thinking about pools and beaches. Many happen during bath time, in shallow water (splash pads) or when a child has unwanted access to water sources.
- Education is important. Knowing the risks, knowing the facts, along with water safety lessons for both children and adults is a proven method to decreasing drowning incidences.
Here at Durfee Aquatics, we are striving to be a reliable and consistent source for water safety. We understand the need to provide a safe environment to our children and families. and we will do this by doing the following:
- We promise to continue educating our staff to be better suited for drowning incidences. Through weekly memos and in service talks, we plan to make sure that water safety is on the forefront of our high school instructors and lifeguards.
- We promise to continue training our instructors in water safety skills that they can pass on to children and adults alike.
- We promise that when this month is over we will continue to educate water safety to our community in the Fall River and Greater Fall River Area.
- We promise to have our door open to the community when issues or concerns arise and we will always strive to achieve our best and adjust when necessary.