‘PARTNERING WITH THE NDPA’
Amid continuous reports of drowning incidents nationwide during the first half 2024, the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) is taking decisive action with a new summerlong campaign aimed at educating parents and caregivers about how to be safer in and around the water. This includes swimming being the first sport that children should learn. It also includes learning and implementing the 5 layers of protection.
#FirstSport Campaign This summer, NDPA is launching #FirstSport campaign starting on May 1 with the release of a new public service announcement (PSA). This campaign is a collaborative effort, bringing together athletes, advocates, parents, community members, and numerous others who have pledged their support to keep children safer.
This PSA is directed by Adam Newacheck (known for his work on Workaholics), the #FirstSport video uses a unique approach and new spokespeople for NDPA — talking babies. The talking babies share the importance of facilitating conversations about water safety while also sharing information about the 5 layers of protection. It emphasizes swimming as the #FirstSport, and the video goes on to share the significance as the only sport that equips children with lifesaving skills.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning stands as the leading cause of death among children aged 1-4. Alarmingly, 69% of drowning incidents involving young children occur during nonswim times. This highlights the need for constant vigilance and effective preventative measures.
Why It Matters
Dr. Adam Katchmarchi (Ph.D.), CEO of NDPA, voices his concern, stating, “Too many of our children are lost to drowning each year.” He urges the public to participate in safeguarding children by watching and sharing the #FirstSport campaign. You can share this with your clients, and this can be a great way to start a water safety conversation. You can share the video with them, and they can learn more about water safety. Stressing that drowning is preventable, Katchmarchi emphasizes the power that parents and caregivers hold in avoiding such tragedies by embracing these preventative and protective measures.
The 5 layers of protection are scientifically proven to help reduce the risk of a drowning incident. Share the following layers of protection with your clients: 1. Barriers and Alarms — to prevent children from gaining access to a pool or open water unsupervised.
2. Supervision — close, constant, and capable adult supervision anytime children are in or around water.
3. Water Competency — equipping every child with basic water safety skills to reduce the risk of drowning and aquatic-related injuries.
4. Life Jackets: (tested and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard) — to provide protection in and around open water.
5. Emergency Response Preparedness — including CPR training with rescue breaths and having a phone available and ready to call 911.
Katchmarchi highlights the need to eliminate misconceptions about drowning, particularly the belief that one prevention strategy suffices. Through the #FirstSport campaign, NDPA aims to share accurate information and foster a culture of water safety awareness.
NDPA is on a mission to prevent the tragedy of drowning by uniting communities through education, awareness, and advocacy. Help NDPA spread awareness by sharing this information with your clients. Working together with NDPA, we strive to make water environments safer for everyone.
As summer approaches, let us unite in our commitment to safeguarding children and ensuring that every day spent near water is a safer one.
Together, we can make a difference and prevent the loss of precious lives to drowning.
