Parks and Recreation
News Release
For Immediate Release: April 5, 2010
Contact: Kim Becker
City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department
Free Event Helps Parents Keep Children Safe In and Around Pools
HENDERSON, Nev. – With the summer swim season just around the corner, the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department is offering parents, grandparents, babysitters, and day care providers an opportunity to learn how to keep children safe in and around the water and how to safeguard their homes. The free Baby Safety Day event takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 1, at the Henderson Multigenerational Activity Pool, 250 S. Green Valley Pkwy. Register online at cityofhenderson.com (activity 136000-00) or at any City of Henderson recreation center. All ages are welcome.
Participating adults will receive a certificate valid for one free swim lesson for a child ages 6 months to 4 years old. The free lessons are made possible by a grant from the Southern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council.
Parents and caregivers will receive important information on safeguarding their homes, preventing pool accidents and injuries, and properly responding to an emergency. The City’s Aquatics team will demonstrate a basic water rescue, CPR/first aid, and water safety techniques, and information will also be provided about the City of Henderson’s Learn-to-Swim program and aquatic courses available for adults and children.
The need for enhanced pool and water safety is critical in Southern Nevada. According to the Southern Nevada Health District, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death in Southern Nevada for young children, and the most common drowning victim is a child age 4 or younger.
“The majority of these tragedies occur right in the family pool, usually when one or both parents are home and there’s a lapse in supervision, even for just a few minutes,” said Angela Hester, Aquatics supervisor, City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department. “Our Baby Safety Day event is designed to provide parents with the information they need to prevent tragedies and learn how to respond should an accident occur.” Hester said in addition to safeguarding a home and proper supervision, the best thing parents can do is to ensure their children know how to swim.
“Swimming is such an invaluable life skill, and most children absolutely enjoy learning,” said Hester. “The free swim lesson provided through this event is a great way to give it a try before signing up for our Learn-to-Swim program, and parents will feel good about giving their children the knowledge and skills they need to help stay safe in and around the water.”
For additional information, call 267-4000 or 267-2983.
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