April Pools Day emphasizes water safety and fun

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, King County Executive Ron Sims, Public Health - Seattle & King County and organizations from across the region came together to promote safe swimming, pay tribute to local heroes who rescued swimmers last year, and kick off April Pools Day 2004.

Executive Ron Sims (far right) is joined by Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer in honoring water safety heros

"I have worked as a lifeguard and know that spending the summer at the local pool or beach is great fun," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Nevertheless, water sports can be risky. So know the water, know your limits, and wear a life jacket."

"Physical activity is essential for healthy living, and swimming is an excellent way to stay fit, " said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "However, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children, and it is entirely preventable."

"Stay safe in the water by learning to swim, swimming in guarded areas only, wearing a life vest or jacket, providing vigilant supervision of children when around water, and avoiding alcohol while swimming or boating," said Plough.

Saturday, April 17, is April Pools Day at many public pools in King County, and this day prepares people for the summer boating and swimming season by teaching them vital water safety skills. April Pools Day usually includes a free swim and fun water safety activities for children, teens and adults. Over 40 pools in King County and around Washington will take part in April Pools Day this year.

For more information on water safety and a list of participating pools, please call the Red Cross at 206-726-3544 or visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/injury

Today Executive Sims and the other leaders honored the following people:

Seattle Fire Department Captain Raul Angulo, firefighters Christopher Gilbert, Dennis Stanley and James Woods and medics Patrick Jasper and Dirk Halliwill for rescuing a young teen who went under while swimming in Lake Washington last May.

Seattle resident Katie Walter for saving a man struggling in a river in Great Falls, Montana.

In addition, Executive Sims recognized Sarah Kane, Lynnwood Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department, for her work coordinating April Pools Day in Washington and Jim Hamilton, CEO of the American Red Cross serving King & Kitsap Counties, for his contributions to water safety.

He also paid tribute to Dr. Linda Quan, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, for her decades of work to prevent and treat water-related injuries in children. Dr. Quan recently retired from her position as head of Children's Hospital's Emergency Department.

Important water safety tips

Washington State law requires children twelve and under to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket or vest while on any vessel less than nineteen feet.

Everyone should wear a life jacket when swimming in open water like the ocean, lakes and rivers if there are no lifeguards on duty.

Infants and children up to age five should wear a life jacket at the beach, on the docks, in boats, rafts and inner tubes, and around any swift or deep water.

Children ages 6 to 11 should wear a life jacket on the docks, in boats, rafts and inner tubes, and on riverbanks.

Teens and adults should wear life jackets on all boats, rafts, inner tubes, and personal watercrafts.

Learn how to swim and learn CPR.

Only swim in areas with lifeguards.

Swim in areas with good water quality and avoid high, running water.

Maintain touch supervision of children around any body of water. Supervisors should be adults.

Avoid swimming, boating, or other water sports if drinking or using other drugs.

Public Health Director, Dr. Plough stresses the importance of physical activity and water safety

"Remember, some Washington lakes and rivers are cold enough even in the summer to cause hypothermia, and cold water may fatigue even the strongest swimmers," said Tony Gomez, Manager of Violence and Injury Prevention at Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Today's event at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center included participation from Public Health - Seattle & King County, the American Red Cross serving King and Kitsap Counties, the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, the Seattle & King County Drowning Prevention Coalition, Mustang Survival, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Washington Parks and Recreation Association - Aquatics Section, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and the Statewide Drowning Prevention Network.

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