KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Saving lives on the water, promoting the fun of aquatic activities and preventing future tragedies were the focus of today’s April Pools Day event at the Federal Way Community Center Pool.
“Water sports are such a great part of living in the Northwest and April Pool’s Day is a terrific way to learn how to keep your family safe in and around the water,” said King County Executive Ron Sims.
In addition to promoting water safety, several local residents were honored at the event for their extraordinary actions to save residents from drowning. Executive Sims was joined in presenting the awards by Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties, and the Washington Drowning Prevention Network.
Saturday, April 21, is April Pools Day for most facilities in King County and Washington state. Families can swim for free and participate in water safety activities. This year, 44 pools in King County and around the state will take part in April Pools Day. For a complete list of participating facilities, visit www.metrokc.gov/health.
“Last year’s 31 tragic drowning deaths in King County were a reminder of how quickly the water can turn dangerous,” said Dr. Fleming. “We can have fun and prevent future tragedies for our community by following a few simple water safety steps.”
Twenty-one of the drownings in 2006 took place in open water – in rivers, lakes, the Puget Sound – with many happening in June and July. The common factor in almost all of them was that victims were not wearing life jackets.
There are important water safety tips that everyone can follow to have fun and stay safe:
- Swim only in designated areas with lifeguards.
- Always wear a life jacket or vest when swimming or boating in lakes, rivers and the Puget Sound.
- Have infants and children wear a life jacket or vest when in or near open water. Washington law requires children twelve years old and younger to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or vest on all vessels less than nineteen feet.
- Supervise children and teens when they are in or near all types of water. Appoint sober adults to supervise children at beach or pool gatherings. Ensure supervisors are close enough to provide immediate rescue to children in need.
- Do not drink alcohol around open water.
- Be especially careful when swimming in fast-moving rivers. The currents and cold water temperatures can be extremely dangerous.
- Make sure all family members know how to swim.
- Learn CPR.
As part of the April Pools ceremony, the following people were honored for rescuing others from drowning in 2006:
- David Templeton and US Coast Guard Petty Officers Justin Heggem and Eric Gee, and Seaman Raquel Wells rescued a 13-year old separated from her raft near Vashon Island.
- Adam Vance, Dr. Ethan Janson and members of the Burien & Normandy Park Fire Department saved a couple who lost their canoe near Three Tree Point.
- Members of the South King Fire and Rescue rescued two high school students who were kayaking south of Redondo Beach when their vessel flipped. The students were hypothermic and required emergency lifesaving procedures before being taken to the hospital.
Also honored were Mustang Survival, the Washington State Building Code Council and the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission for their drowning prevention efforts and accomplishments this past year.
For more information on water safety or a list of pools participating in April Pools Day, please visit www.metrokc.gov/health/injury/drowning.htm
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.
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