On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed April "Adult Learn to Swim Month." The proclamation and accompanying comments by Pat Toner (founder, Pat Toner's H2O Kids Swimming School) emphasized that everyone needs to learn to swim, especially here in Florida.
To help make this possible, Sailfish Splash Waterpark will conduct a series of activities focusing on water safety and swimming lessons for all ages during the spring and summer of 2016.
According to the CDC, drowning ranks fifth among causes of unintentional, injury-related death in the United States. Thirty-seven percent of American adults cannot swim the length of a pool, putting them at risk of being one of the 10 people who drown every day in the United States. Moreover, drowning ranks first among causes of accident-related deaths among children ages one through four (drowning causes 30 percent of unintentional, injury-related deaths in this age group.) Fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death (behind motor vehicle crashes) for children aged one to 14. Lack of swimming ability is the main factor in all drownings for all ages.
Research shows that formal swimming lessons dramatically reduce drowning risk. Unfortunately, adults embarrassed about their inability to swim avoid enrollment and participation in formal lessons. Tragically, these adults put their children at risk of drowning, first by disproportionately neglecting to enroll their children in formal swimming lessons, and second because a parent who cannot swim cannot save a drowning child.
Sailfish Splash Waterpark kicked-off its focus on learning to swim on Saturday, March 26, 2016, with the second annual Hobe Sound - Port Salerno Rotary Club "Duck Derby." The club raced 700 sponsored, yellow, rubber ducks down the parks four-story flume slide and around the lazy river. The event raised $7,000 for the Rotary International's "Josh the Otter" water safety program. The local club earmarked a portion of the proceeds for swim lesson scholarships at Sailfish Splash Waterpark.
On Saturday, April 23 at 11:00 AM Sailfish Splash Waterpark will launch the expansion of its swim lesson program to include adults. At that time, any and all adults who want to start to learn to swim will get a FREE, 30 minute swimming lesson (to assuage the embarrassment factor, senior staff will teach.) In addition, the first four participants who sign up will receive eight more 30 minute adult swimming lessons for FREE.
During the weeks following the FREE 30 minute lesson for adults, Larry McKay, the jock of "Music in the Morning" for Coast 101.3, will take weekly swimming lessons. Coast 101. 3 and Sailfish Splash Waterpark will publicize his efforts and accomplishments to highlight the fact that an adult who knows how to swim can save a child from drowning.
Finally, on Friday, June 24 for the fifth consecutive year, Sailfish Splash Waterpark will serve as a host site of the "World's Largest Swimming Lesson." During the event, everyone and anyone, children and adults, may participate in a FREE 30 minute swimming lesson. Coast 101.3, the Hobe Sound - Port Salerno Rotary, Children's Services Council and more will be on hand. Last year the facility set a record. The Waterpark website and social media will publicize information on how to register. Sign up for the water park newsletter at www.sailfishsplash.com and watch www.facebook.com/SailfishSplash.
Throughout this spring and summer of water safety and swimming lessons, Sailfish Splash Waterpark will offer a full curriculum of swimming lessons for all ages and skill levels. The Waterpark website and social media will announce schedules. To sign up a child for swimming lessons, go to the Waterpark and speak with an instructor.
