May is National Water Safety Month

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2020

Aleatha Ezra
Director of Park Member Development
World Waterpark Association
aezra@waterparks.org

Janay Rickwalder
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
jrickwalder@phta.org

MAY IS NATIONAL WATER SAFETY MONTH

Leading Aquatics Organizations Champion Annual Awareness Campaign to Promote Water Safety While at Home

(OVERLAND PARK, KS) – A coalition of water safety partners, including the American Red Cross, the National Recreation and Park Association, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and the World Waterpark Association, will work together to promote May as National Water Safety Month (NWSM).  NWSM engages the public to raise awareness about water safety and highlights the importance of public education regarding safer practices for kids and adults when they’re in and around water.

“National Water Safety Month is a powerful way to send a crucial message at the start of the busy summer swim season,” said Connie Harvey, Director of the Aquatics Centennial Initiative for the American Red Cross. “There are layers of protection involved in water safety. Ensuring everyone in the family learns how to swim and that parents and caregivers have the knowledge and skills to handle emergencies around the water, including how to perform CPR is a good place to start. National Water Safety Month helps us communicate these messages.”

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many community pools, aquatic center and waterparks are delaying their opening dates. However, while the summer swimming season might get off to a later start than usual, the need to educate consumers about safer water practices is as important as ever.

“Park and recreation professionals throughout the nation provide aquatics programming at more than 70 percent of agencies,” said Kristine Stratton, NRPA president and CEO. “At NRPA, we are proud to support National Water Safety Month and recognize the importance of providing opportunities for all people to learn to swim, especially children.”

“The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, in partnership with members and stakeholders, works year-round to promote the safe enjoyment of water,” said PHTA President & CEO, Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “We are proud to celebrate May as National Water Safety Month.  Participation in National Water Safety month not only saves lives, but it helps promote the safe enjoyment of swimming to future generations.”

“Safety is always the first priority for our aquatics community and protecting kids and families in and around the water through education and building awareness is more important than ever,” said Rick Root, World Waterpark Association (WWA) President. “Sharing safety messages through email communications, social media and other means is a wonderful opportunity to broaden our reach and amplify our message about the importance of ‘being water aware’ at all times.”

Free water safety tips, resources and activities for parents and children to use during their stay-at-home-time are available from a variety of trusted sites, including:

• National Water Safety Month: https://nwsm.phta.org
• Colin’s Hope: www.colinshope.org
• CPSC’s Pool Safely: www.poolsafely.gov
• Stop Drowning Now: www.stopdrowningnow.org
• World’s Largest Swimming Lesson: www.wlsl.org
• National Recreation and Park Association: https://www.nrpa.org/aquatics

About National Water Safety Month
What started as a week in 2003 has grown into this annual month-long event that is supported by thousands of aquatics facilities and professionals that provide educational programs, public service announcements, governmental proclamations, dealer and aquatics business promotions and the distribution of water safety themed materials, designed to help prevent water-related fatalities, illnesses and injuries. Detailed information and free resources in support of National Water Safety Month, for both consumers and businesses, can be found at https://nwsm.phta.org. Connect with National Water Safety Month on Twitter (@MayIsNWSM) and Facebook (@watersafetymonth).