1. Swimmers for Water Safety (Your team Name) Swim Team

2. Quick Facts About Drowning* In 2007, there were 3,443 fatal drownings in the US, about 10/day For every child that died, 4 more received emergency care for non-fatal submersions Drowning is the highest cause of death for children under the age of 5

3. Quick Facts About Drowning* Florida has the highest drowning rates for children 1-4 years old in the nation Drowning is 2-3 X’s more likely in ethnically diverse communities Nearly 60% of African American/Latino children cannot swim Children from non-swimming families are 9 X’s more likely to drown *h ttp://www.cdc.gov/migrated_content/general_information/healthyswimming/s afeswimming.html

4. Risk Factors Lack of Barriers and Supervision- Children under the age of 1 most likely to drown in bathtubs, buckets, or toilets. Children age 1-4 most likely to drown in residential pools with parents supervising. Age and Natural Water Settings- Risk of natural water drowning increases with age. Natural water settings are the site of most drownings over the age of 15. Lack of Life Jacket- 9 of 10 boating related drownings occur when victim was not wearing life jacket. Alcohol Use- Involved in up to half of adolescent and adult water related deaths.

5. According to 2009 US Census* (Find information for your area) Sarasota Population: 369,765 7.4% Hispanic 4.8% African American 10.5% speak language other than English in home 9.9% are below poverty level * http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12115.html

6. What can we do? As the premiere competitive team in the area, we have a responsibility to our community to help solve this problem.

7. USA Swimming Foundation “Make a Splash” Consider becoming a Make a Splash partner Goal of teaching every child in America to swim before 3 rd grade Provides grant money for learn to swim programs and community awareness Provides great service for community and excellent PR opportunity for the Y Requirements can be found at: http://swimfoundation.org/Document.Doc?id =44

8. In the Meantime Support a (your team name) team volunteer project to spread water safety information!

9. Proposed project Web site development for other teams to be able to start their own water safety program Development of Spanish/English brochures on water safety for community distribution Supply of brochures on CD’s to pediatricians in area for distribution to their patients Speak to daycares on water safety Have water safety days at Y for economically depressed day cares, schools, Boys Clubs, etc.

10. How can the You help? Give financial support for the printing of brochures and CDs (Team or facility contact info can be placed on back of brochures for community PR) Support free “water safety days” through lifeguards, facilities, and community out reach with team name swimmers used as support staff