{"id":273082,"date":"2024-05-17T16:45:50","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T23:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesofsandiego.com\/?p=273082"},"modified":"2024-05-17T16:46:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T23:46:00","slug":"san-diego-proclaims-may-as-prevent-drowning-and-water-safety-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesofsandiego.com\/education\/2024\/05\/17\/san-diego-proclaims-may-as-prevent-drowning-and-water-safety-month\/","title":{"rendered":"San Diego Proclaims May as ‘Prevent Drowning and Water Safety Month’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Swimming<\/a>
An increasing number of San Diego children have had to be rescued from private pools after nearly drowning, according to county health officials. Proper safety instruction is demonstrated in this photo from the County News Center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As summer season approaches and temperatures rise, so too does the risk of drowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to raise awareness and of the issue and lower the risks associated with warmer weather, San Diego city leaders declared that May is Prevent Drowning and Water Safety Month<\/a> Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May is also National Water Safety Month<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera presented a proclamation with the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego<\/a> to send the message that “everyone can make a difference in drowning prevention.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month shows our commitment to ensuring San Diegans, especially our children, know how to stay safe around water,” Gloria said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“By increasing awareness and access to swim education, we’re taking essential steps to prevent tragedies and empower our community.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the community gathered at the City Heights Swim Complex for the presentation, which included remarks by community and aquatics leaders, information booths and a lifejacket demonstration by children from Chollas Meade Elementary School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old, and it is the second-leading cause of death for those under 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our young people,” Elo-Rivera said. “Swim classes and water safety education coupled with access to public swimming pools are critical to prevent drowning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“With so much access to beaches, rivers, lakes and pools in San Diego, we must continue to support these programs at our public pools to protect the lives of San Diego residents,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department and PDFSD have also partnered with the San Diego Unified School District for Schools to Pools in order to offer free swimming lessons to SDUSD students, dry land water safety education, and free passes to city aquatics facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Parks and Recreation's Schools to Pools program educates @sdschools<\/a> students on swimming. With this program, children of all abilities can enjoy the pool, including third-grader Yahshua who is hoisted in a special chair & lowered into the water to learn to swim! #WaterSafetyMonth<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xBOcoT3CQk<\/a><\/p>— City of San Diego (@CityofSanDiego) May 7, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>