Water Safety Programs

Angela D. Mickalide, Ph.D., MCHES

Director of Research

National Drowning Prevention Alliance Symposium

March 9, 2012

San Diego, CA

The Story of Safe Kids

• Over 20 years ago, a pediatric trauma surgeon

by the name of Martin Eichelberger at

Children’s National Medical Center, in

Washington, DC, had a simple question:

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Why was no one working to keep

children out of emergency rooms?

Our Mission

Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of

organizations with a mission of preventing

unintentional childhood injury, a leading

cause of death and disability for children

ages 14 and under.

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Grassroots Strength

Together we protect families from preventable injuries

through research, education, programs, environmental

improvements and advocacy.

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Where We Are

Coalition Overview

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380 State and Local Safe Kids Coalitions 43 State Offices and State Coalitions

337 Local Coalitions

Approximately 225 chapters

Lead Agency Types

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Pool and Spa Safety

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Pool & Spa Safety Program

Safe Kids received funding from the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to:

• Provide coalition grants

to our network

• Develop and distribute

pool and spa safety

educational materials

• Execute public education

and media outreach

efforts

Coalition Program Grants

• Residential Pool and Spa Safety Pilot Program • Partner with emergency responders, local pool and spa retailers

and professionals

• Provide free home pool and spa safety checks and general safety

recommendations

• Pool and Spa Safety Education Program • Organize regional education seminars/events to educate parents,

caregivers, children, pool and spa owners and the community

about safe pool and spa environments, key drowning and

entrapment prevention messages; layers of protection

• Water Rapid Response Program • Support media outreach and public education immediately

following a drowning or near drowning incident in the local

community

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Coalition Programs

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Grant Overview

• Safe Kids awarded 67 grants to coalitions in 28 states:

• Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,

Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire,

New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,

Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,

Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,

Wisconsin

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Program Toolkit

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Media Outreach

• Satellite Media Tour

• Partnered with Olympic medalist

Amanda Beard to promote pool

and spa safety messages through

national and local television

networks

• Radio Media Tour

• Promoted pool and spa safety

messages through regional and

state radio networks

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Media Outreach

• Social Media Outreach • Pool and spa safety, drowning prevention and Pool Safely

information were communicated regularly through Facebook

(Safe Kids) and Twitter (@safekidsusa)

• Facebook campaign generated

• 107,490,100 Facebook impressions

• Reach of at least 27,103,340

• 52,271,122 social impressions

• Social Media Giveaway • Pool & Spa Safety Information Kits

• Brochures, tip sheets, Water Watcher cards

• Pool Safely fans, temporary tattoos

• Water Safety Activity Book

• Beach ball and whistle

http://www.safekids.org/water

Coalition Program Grants 2012

• Pool Safety Education Program • Up to 60 grants of $1,500-$4,000 each will be available to

Safe Kids coalitions

• Organize educational sessions and events to teach parents,

caregivers, children, pool and spa owners and the community

about safe pool and spa environments, key drowning and

entrapment prevention messages; layers of protection

• Water Rapid Response Program • Up to 15 grants of $500 each will be available to Safe Kids

coalitions

• Support media outreach and public education immediately

following a drowning or near drowning incident in the local

community

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Start Safe: Water

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Start Safe: Water

• Designed in partnership with the National Head Start

Association, water safety experts and funded by the

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Delivered to children and caregivers through Safe Kids

coalitions and the fire service

• Distributed 8,000 copies of the program in 2011

• Program expansion includes creation of an pictorial and

animated DVD – in both English and Spanish

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Start Safe: Water

• Key messages for children ages 2 to 4

• Lock, Look, Learn (layers of protection)

• Materials available in English and Spanish for educators,

parents/caregivers and children

• Cover Letter for Educators

• Instructor Guide

• Parent and Caregiver Booklet

• Story Book and Stickers for Children

• Flash Cards

• Safety Rangers Poster

• Online Games for Caregivers and Children

• http://www.artgig.com/preview/hsc_getwet_3-31

• http://www.artgig.com/preview/hsc_water_3-31

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Program Materials

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Program Distribution

• 8,000 kits distributed nationwide on April 1, 2011

• 4,300 to Head Start Centers in the 12 states with the

highest rates of pool drowning: FL, AZ, MS, CA, GA,

LA, NV, SC, OK, TN, TX, and VA

• 38,700 teachers

• 438,600 children

• 2,500 to Expert Network members and Safe Kids

Coalitions and Chapters

• 1,200 at conference presentations

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Contact Information

Angela D. Mickalide, PhD, MCHES

Director, Research

Safe Kids Worldwide

1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Washington, DC 20004

202 662 0625

amickalide@safekids.org

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