The end of May sees the celebration of Memorial Day, the last days of the school year and, for parents and families, the start of the summer swimming season. A new partnership from the City of Bloomington wants to educate the public on water safety before diving headfirst into the pool.
The city’s parks and recreation department has formed what it calls a "Water Coalition" with the Bloomington-Normal YMCA and the American Red Cross of Central Illinois.
Tim Ready is the senior director of aquatics for the YMCA.
“We have come together with a shared and urgent mission: to prevent drowning, promote water safety in every corner of our community,” Ready said Thursday at O'Neil Aquatics Center in Bloomington. “Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, the second leading cause for children ages 5 to 14.”
Ready also acknowledged that children of color, ages 10 to 14, are seven times more likely to drown than their white peers. He said the coalition has developed a new combination of programs and promotion for water safety.
“We’re building a comprehensive ecosystem of water safety. This includes everything from learn-to-swim programs and CPR training, to lifeguard certifications and online resources,” he said. “Our goal is to make every individual water competent, equipped with skills, knowledge and confidence to stay safe and help others in and around the water.”
Ready said water safety depends on the entire community, regardless of who brings a child to a pool. He said everyone is responsible for ensuring safety.
Cody Demas is aquatics and youth sports program manager of Bloomington’s Parks and Recreation department. He said the coalition has formed four key pillars to focus their efforts on, including learn-to-swim programs.
“We are committed to high-quality training in all aspects, and I am very proud to say that throughout the last year at City of Bloomington we have become not just a seasonal facility, we have been able to expand our teaching and instruction throughout the fall, winter and spring months as well in partnership with District 87,” he said.
Demas said the partnership brought in 340 participants in the off season, on top of the nearly 1,400 participants last summer.
The other pillars the coalition includes are drowning prevention outreach, lifeguard and CPR certification, and water competency promotion.
“Our coalition has worked with local municipalities, contractors, education facilities and nonprofit groups to ensure all stakeholders are involved in making activities around the water safer for everyone in McLean County,” Demas said. “Education is absolutely at the forefront of our training so that we are interacting positively with all guests and users in our facilities.”
Demas also said it is the city’s goal to build comfort and confidence around water.
The Central Illinois chapter of the American Red Cross shared messages with the same goal of helping the public be more protective around water. Chapter executive director Lynda Hruska said her organization has plenty of resources for families.
"Before families head out to pools and parks this summer, it’s important for everyone to learn and review critical water safety skills,” said Hruska. “Knowing and utilizing fundamental Red Cross water safety skills will help you feel more prepared in, on and around the water and help save lives.”
Tips shared by the coalition included never swimming alone, using a life jacket if necessary and avoiding swimwear that is the same color of the body of water being swam in.
