By Adam Katchmarchi, Ph.D.

NDPA Provides Free Water Safety Toolkit to Enhance Summer Water Safety in Your Pool Business We need you!As most of the country is transitioning to consistently warmer weather, the importance of water safety is increasing by the day. May is National Water Safety Month, and it is quickly followed by a summer season with the people gathering around aquatic environments for pleasure and relaxation. Sharing quality and sound water safety information with your customers this spring and summer is just good business!

With higher-than-average drowning rates since the start of the pandemic, the time for collective action is now. For years, there have been calls to create a summer water safety campaign that everyone could utilize in their communities and regions across the country. For the first time ever, the NDPA has launched a “Water Safety Season Toolkit.” This free toolkit includes a variety of resources that individuals, businesses, and trade groups can easily use to increase awareness of water safety and share the 5 Layers of Protection. The toolkit is available now and includes the following resources:

• Social Media Campaign: A predeveloped social media campaign that anyone can use as individuals or in their business. It provides more than 25 social posts including graphics and animations, suggested post content, recommended posting dates, links, and hashtags.

• Digital Assets (Printables): The toolkit also includes 14 printable items including posters, infographics, checklists, and the NDPA’s layers of protection guide. All of these can be downloaded for free and printed at your local print shop.

• Sample Blogs/Press Releases: The toolkit provides three simple water safety blogs that can be shared on digital platforms and three press releases designed to be shared with local newspapers and TV/radio stations.

• Social Frames: Templated social frames for Water Safety Month and Water Safety Champion are also included. Instructions to set up and use on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are also provided.

• Local/ State Government Proclamation: A sample local/state government proclamation that is ready to share with your local policy makers is also included in the toolkit. This sample is downloadable, and each community can simply enter their specific information.

• Press & Media Toolkit: In addition to the press releases, the toolkit also provides a guide on working with press and media when discussing water safety. This includes tips on dealing with media, water safety stats, and safety information to share.

• Layers of Protection Video: NDPA’s 5 Layers of Protection video is now available in English and Spanish. The NDPA encourages everyone to share this video with parents and caregivers. It can be downloaded from the toolkit for free and shared on social media or on your website.

• Water Warriors Group: The toolkit also invites all users to join the NDPA Water Warriors Facebook Group. This is a private Facebook group for water safety advocates and professionals to connect, share, collaborate, and learn. The group currently has close to 1,600 members.

The NDPA is making it easier than ever to share water safety this Water Safety Month and throughout the summer season.

The NDPA is offering co-branding opportunities on many of the resources for a small donation to the organization. If you are interested in co-branding materials, email admin@ndpa.org. Thank you for being a Water Safety Champion!