BOULDER CITY – We are home to hundreds of pools, spas and of course, Lake Mead, so water safety is a top priority for many in our community. That’s why, once again this summer, Boulder City will take part in The World's Largest Swimming Lesson™.
Kids can take part in this free global swimming lesson at the Boulder City Municipal Pool, 861 Avenue B on Thursday, June 26th, from noon until 12:30 p.m. “Every year in the United States there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths,” said Julie Calloway, Director of Boulder City Parks and Recreation. “We all need to play a part in education, safety and drowning prevention. These lessons will be offered at an estimated 600 locations in more than 20 countries.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death for children ages 5-14. Research shows that formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages 1-4.
When near a pool, hot tub, lake or river:
- Never leave kids alone and give them 100-percent of your attention. Designate an adult to supervise children in the water. Get rid of distractions: don’t use your cell phone, turn off the television and earbuds.
- Do not let kids play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools, and never enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover.
- Make sure your home, hot tub or pool has proper fences, barriers, and alarms. Fences should be at least four feet high and surround the pool or spa on all sides. Install a door alarm from the house to the pool/spa area.
- On boats, children 13 and under must wear a vest while the vessel is underway, unless they are inside a cabin or fully-enclosed area.
- Learn what to do in an emergency, including CPR.
In addition to this annual event, our Parks and Recreation Department recently received a $2500 grant from the Southern Nevada Chapter of the International Code Council to provide free swim lessons for toddlers 0-4 years of age.
Pre-registration begins an hour before the lesson starts: 11:00 a.m. on June 26. There is no charge to participate. Learn more about this event by visiting www.wlsl.org.
