- 1. Maximizing Your WaterSafety & DrowningPrevention Efforts
Anna Stewart, Manager Drowning Prevention Coalition ofPalm Beach
County17th International Boating and Water Safety SummitMarch 26,
2013
2. Goal & ObjectivesGoal:For attendees to be able to take
the presented informationand enhance their water safety education
efforts at home.After completing this training, attendees should
beable to:Implement specific water safety and drowning
preventioneducation ideas for all age groups (kindergarten to
adults)within own community.Cultivate partnerships with key
stakeholders.Ideas on how to establish a volunteer base. 3.
Drowning Prevention CoalitionOf Palm Beach CountyPBC Govt agency
Staff of 2 (Mgr. & Coord.) Funded by: Housed and directly
managed by:Though we have a completely separate budget!Responsible
for educating 1.3 million PBCresidents on the importance of
watersafety and drowning prevention. 4. Statistics 5. Drowning
Deaths per Year in PBC 1997-2012 Prepared By: Drowning Prevention
Coalition of Palm Beach7062 63 6260 58* 56 56 5351 50 5050 4948
4643 42 41Number of Drownings40302010 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
2002 20032004 2005 2006 20072008 2009 20102011 2012Data Source:
Office of the Medical Examiner, District 15; Data Notes: Immediate
Cause ofDeath: Drowning; *Data Includes Resident and Non Resident
Drowning DeathsYear *Of the 58 drowning deaths, 9 were as a result
of a capsized boat from Haiti 6. Drowning Deaths Per Month in PBC
1997-201210092 88 90 78 8075 73 71 7168 70Number of Drownings57 57
605149 50 40 30 20 10 0Jan Feb Mar Apr MayJune July AugSeptOctNov
Dec Prepared By: Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County
Data Source: Office of the Medical Examiner, District 15; Data
Notes: Immediate Cause of Death: Drowning; Data includes Resident
and Non Resident Drowning DeathsMonth 7. Drowning Deaths by Gender
in PBC 1997-2012 Female 207 GenderMale624 0100 200 300400500600
700Number of Drownings PData Source: Office of the Medical
Examiner, District 15; Data Notes: ImmediatePrepared By: Drowning
Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach CountyCause of Death: Drowning;
Data includes Resident and Non Resident DrowningDeaths 8. Drowning
Deaths by Location for PBC1997-2012 PondHot TubOther Lake MVA3%
3%2%1%Pond MVA 0% 1% Bathtub 4% PoolIntracoastal 23% 7%Lake 7%
Canal MVA 16%Ocean 17% Canal16%Data Source: Office of the Medical
Examiner, District 15; Data Notes: Immediate Cause ofPrepared By:
Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach CountyDeath: Drowning;
Data includes Resident and Non Resident Drowning Deaths 9. Drowning
Deaths in Palm Beach County, Rates by Age,1997-2012Prepared by:
Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County9 Drowning Rate*
per 100,000 Resident Population8.086.47 5.66 4.75 4.544.34.3
3.932.92.921.711.40AgeData Source: Office of the Medical Examiner,
District 15 and Department of Health, Office of Health Statistics
and Assessment in consultation withthe Florida Legislature Office
of Economic and Demographic Research; Data Notes: Immediate Cause
of Death: Drowning *Estimated Rate Basedon Resident Population
Only, Visitor Population Unknown 10. Our MissionTo promote,
develop, and supporttraining and community educationefforts that
prevent drowning, neardrowning and other water relatedincidents in
Palm Beach County. Not Easy Limited Staff Limited Funding 11. How
Do We Carry Out Our Mission? Provide free, land based water
safetypresentations and training to:ANYONE WILLING TO LISTEN TOUS
TALK! Provide free, water safety lessons toboth underprivileged and
special needschildren ages 3-12 (on an individuallevel) as well as
offer lessons for groups . Provide water safety/drowningprevention
materials at health andsafety fairs. 12. How Do We Carry Out Our
Mission?Making water safety and drowning prevention fun to
learn.Establishing public/private partnerships with key
stakeholders.Establishing a core of dedicated volunteers. 13.
Making Water Safety AndDrowning Prevention Fun To Learn Attractive
Displays 14. Making Water Safety AndDrowning Prevention Fun To
LearnAt DisplaysUsing a Riddle Gameto Bring Kids Over 15. Making
Water Safety And DrowningPrevention Fun To Learn Pre K: Stewie the
Duck Read book & play either an instrument or the provided DVD
16. Making Water Safety And Drowning Prevention Fun To
LearnTeaching How To BeSafe at The BeachPre K-1st Grade:They Love
Sandy & BuddyOur Build-A-Bears 17. Making Water Safety
AndDrowning Prevention Fun To LearnTeacher InvolvementPre K 5th
GradeAdultSupervision:WATERWATCHER 18. Making Water Safety And
Drowning Prevention Fun To Learn Teacher InvolvementK 5th Grade
They Love Our Build-A-Teacher 19. Making Water Safety AndDrowning
Prevention Fun To LearnAssembly And Classroom Programs1st 5th Grade
Make volunteercards. Hand them tostudents randomlyas they arrive to
yourpresentation. Call your volunteerwhen ready. 20. Making Water
Safety AndDrowning Prevention Fun To LearnStudent Involvement K -
5th GradeAssembly Program: Getting The Kids Involved Boating Safety
Beach Safety 21. Making Water Safety AndDrowning Prevention Fun To
LearnStudent InvolvementK - 5th GradeReach or Throw Dont GO!!!! 22.
Making Water Safety AndDrowning Prevention Fun To Learn Visual
AidsPre K 5th Grade 23. Making Water Safety AndDrowning Prevention
Fun To Learn Visual Aids 24. Making Water Safety AndDrowning
Prevention Fun To Learn GamesGreat forSummerCamps
andElementarySchoolChildren 25. Making Water Safety AndDrowning
Prevention Fun To LearnGames For Middle & High School Students
26. Making Water Safety And Drowning Prevention Fun To
LearnCraftsMaking Water Watcher Tags and Rescue Devices 27.
Attention Getting Videos ForHigh School and Adult Presentations 28.
Making Water Safety Interesting & Relevant For Adults and High
SchoolHow To Escape A Sinking Vehicle 3rd Leading Cause Of Drowning
In PBC Float time at waters surface can range from 1minute to 4
minutes. Vehicle will assume an angled nose downposition in the
water. Electric power may stay on for few minutes ornot at all. If
water depth is less than 14, vehicle willusually rest on bottom on
all 4 wheels. If morethan 14, vehicle will usually land on its
roof. 29. Making Water Safety Interesting & RelevantFor Adults
and TeenagersHow To Escape A Sinking Vehicle 30. Making Water
Safety Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow To
Escape A Sinking VehicleREMEMBERS TAY CALM Push Seatbelt ReleaseO
pen window(s) or O pen window(s) orDoor(s) Door(s)Seatbelt Release
GO!!!!!!! 31. Making Water Safety Interesting & RelevantFor
Adults and TeenagersHow To Escape A Sinking VehicleSTAY CALM Assess
the situation Slow your breathingPanicking Wastes EnergyAnd Time
32. Making Water Safety Interesting & Relevant For Adults and
Teenagers How To Escape A Sinking VehicleOpen your Window(s) or
Door(s) Due to water pressure from the outside, opening the door
will bedifficult or impossible. Locate door latch, window crank or
electric window switch (electricwindows may still work but dont
rely on them). A rescue/escape tool should be immediatelyavailable
for breaking out the window. Tool should be mounted onthe sidewall
of the driversside compartment, attachedto key ring or other
locationthat is easily accessible. 33. Making Water Safety
Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow To Escape A
Sinking VehicleOpen your Window(s) or Door(s) Smash window using
rescue/escape tool or lower window using crank or switch. If there
is no rescue/escape tool, vehicle must completely fill with water
for there to be an equalization of pressure. 34. Making Water
Safety Interesting & Relevant For Adults and Teenagers How To
Escape A Sinking VehicleSeatbelt release Keep seatbelt on until
ready to exit the vehicle. Iftaken off, occupant can be pushed away
from thedrivers side window. Place your hand on the window frame to
make sure you stayby the exit. 35. Making Water Safety Interesting
& Relevant For Adults and Teenagers How To Escape A Sinking
VehicleSeatbelt release Use escape/rescue tool tocut the seatbelt
and exitthrough an open window. If you must wait until the
carcompletely fills with water, place your hand onthe on the door
handle, cut yourseatbelt with escape/rescue tooland open the door
once thevehicles interior has pressurized. 36. Making Water Safety
Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow To Escape A
Sinking VehicleWhat If There Are Multiple Occupants? Once escape
route has opened, each occupantshould hold hands in a human chain
and escapefrom same route. If young children are secured in car
seats or by aseatbelt, remember:PO GO 37. Making Water Safety
Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow To Escape A
Sinking VehiclePO GO:1st:Push Seatbelt Release and head tothe back
of vehicle.2nd:Release child(ren) from theircar seat/seatbelt using
the seatbelt cutteron the rescue/escape tool.3rd:Open your
escaperoute, and4th:GO, get Out! 38. Making Water Safety
Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow To Escape A
Sinking VehicleOther InformationOnce you have escaped the vehicle
be prepared for the water to be dark and murky.Blow bubbles out of
your nose to determine which way is to the surface of the water.
39. Making Water Safety And Drowning Prevention Fun To LearnHow To
Escape A Sinking Vehicle If car lands upside down in the water: a)
Dont take off your seatbelt until youhave a firm grasp of the door
handle. b) Once you take off your seatbelt, youmust wait until the
car fills withwater until you can open the dooror you can use a
rescue tool topunch or smash thewindow to escape. 40. Making Water
Safety Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow To
Escape A Sinking VehicleGO! GET OUTAS FAST AS YOU CAN 41. Making
Water Safety Interesting & RelevantFor Adults and TeenagersHow
To Escape A Sinking Vehicle 42. Establishing Public/Private
Partnerships With Key Stakeholders Area Aquatic Facilities- 18
aquatic facilities that participate in our Water Safety Swim
Program- Staff assists us with water safety presentations.- Schools
and Pools program. 43. Establishing Public/Private Partnerships
With Key Stakeholders Local American Red Cross - Lifeguard classes,
water safety instructor classes, CPR classes. Safe Kids Coalition -
Water safety is part of their injury prevention program. Department
of Children & Families - Access to most vulnerable. -
Investigates all Drowning/Near Drowning incidents. Childrens
Services Council - Provide funding to programs that serve
underprivileged. 44. Establishing Public/Private Partnerships
WithKey Stakeholders Medical Examiner Office - Receive ME reports
where the cause of death is drowning. Or ask to read reports where
the cause of death is drowning. School District - Work with
physical education teachers/drivers ed. - Schools and Pools
Program. Health Department - Health clinics, health fairs. Florida
Swimming Pool Association - Members have direct access to
customers. - Funded our Car in Canal brochure. 45. Establishing
Public/Private Partnerships WithKey Stakeholders Local Law
Enforcement & Municipalities- Drowning prevention campaign-
Pool safety cling 46. Establishing Public/Private Partnerships
WithKey Stakeholders Local Media- Help disseminate information
(i.e. PSA, Radio, Article).- Read every drowning article and
contact writer. Area Hospitals- Provide water safety information
for parent classes. Area Pediatrician Offices- Provide water safety
information. Center for Autism & Related Disabilities/Special
Needs- Provide support and resources for families. United States
Coast Guard Auxiliary- Boating safety, awesome volunteers. 47.
Establishing Public/Private Partnerships WithKey Stakeholders Palm
Beach County Fire Rescue Volunteer Battalion - Our 501(c)3 Partner
- Boating safety - Fundraise together - Grants 48. Establishing
Public/Private Partnerships WithKey Stakeholders US Army Corps of
Engineers- Bobber the Water Safety Dog.- Provides water safety
coloring books and other materials.- Staff can help with water
safety/boating safety events. 49. Establishing A Core Of Dedicated
VolunteersPeople Who Have Been Personally Effected By A
Drowning/Near Drowning Incident Most Poignant. Email reporters who
cover adrowning story to see if youcan get in touch with the
family.Contact the law enforcementagency who handled the call. 50.
Jordans Story 51. Establishing A Core Of Dedicated Volunteers Parks
& Recreation Dept Staff & Other Aquatic Facility Staff
(i.e. YMCA, Cities) Area High School Students- Mandatory service
hours. Retired Senior Volunteer Program- Wealth of experience and
knowledge. Volunteermatch.org- Interested volunteers Come To You!!!
52. Establishing A Core Of Dedicated Volunteers Junior League -
Improves communities through the effective action and leadership of
trained volunteers. United Way - Interested volunteers via their
website Come To You!!!! Just Ask! - Health and safety fairs. - When
giving Presentations. Area University Students - Internship
Programs. 53. Dont Reinvent the Wheel! Poolsafely.gov - a plethora
of free, watersafety materials pbcgov.org/dpc usla.org safekids.org
bobber.info Me!!!! 54. THANK YOU ANNA STEWART 405 PIKE ROADWEST
PALM BEACH, FL 33411561-616-7068 [email protected]
