Be a Part of International Water Safety Day

International Water Safety Day is Tuesday, May 15. The annual event was created six years ago in order spread awareness of the ongoing drowning pandemic and to educate people about water safety. A record number of groups are participating this year including the American Red Cross, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely Campaign and Diversity in Aquatics.

“International Water Safety Day has become water safety’s loudest sounding board,” said Connie Harvey, Director of the Red Cross Aquatics Centennial Campaign. “It provides a platform for our collective voices to be heard to teach children and adults how to be safer in, on and around water and prevent drowning.”

The American Red Cross has produced and distributed 1 million International Water Safety

Day stickers throughout the world as part of a water safety lesson on May 15th. The free

Community Lesson Plan and other resources are available at internationalwatersafetyday.org.

Events across the globe include:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake and river projects nationwide will conduct water safety educational programs, post International Water Safety Day information within their recreation areas, campgrounds and visitor centers.

• Propeller Sports Academy is celebrating at the University of Botswana, Gaborone campus at the swimming pool arena. They are going to have booths from local agencies, fun yet informative games and engaging activities including demonstrations by lifeguards to show basic rescues and first aid.

• The Glennie Aquatic Centre in Australia will be providing water safety lessons at the Glennie School and to St. Anthony’s School.

DO YOUR PART, BE WATER SMART

• Take the Pool Safely Pledge and share it using the following hashtags: #IWSD2018 #watersafety

• Download the Red Cross Swim App for a variety of kid-friendly games, videos and quizzes. Water safety information for parents for a variety of aquatic environments (waterpark, pool, beach, lake) is also included as well as a progress-checker for swim lessons.

• Learn to swim. People can find age-appropriate water orientation and Learn-to-Swim programs for themselves and their family members by contacting their local aquatic facility and asking for American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety programs, or by visiting redcross.org/takeaclass.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.