The City of Summit is announcing the Department of Community Programs Family Aquatic Center has been awarded the 2016 Community Lifesaver Award from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. Community Programs was recognized for its Parental Responsibility Campaign, “I’m Watching Your Child; You Should be Too!” as well as Shark Diddy TV, Splash and Learn events and their free rental life vest and swim testing programs at the Family Aquatic Center.
The award holds particular significance as it is presented by an organization founded by non-profit and government organizations committed to drowning prevention education, and also by people who have lost loved ones to drowning. The award was presented at the National Drowning Prevention Alliance Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. It is the first time that a city the size of Summit has been recognized in this award category.
“At the Summit Family Aquatic Center, we are committed to drowning prevention education,” explains Director of Community Programs Judith Josephs. “We take this responsibility very seriously and want to be sure that families are safe whenever they are near water, whether it is with us at the Family Aquatic Center, or at a friend’s backyard pool or the beach.”
Josephs continues, “This year, we will be joining with the Summit Area YMCA and The Connection for Women and Families to participate in the World Waterpark Association’s World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on Friday, June 24, 2016. Collectively, we will offer a free swim lesson to anyone that comes to the event to emphasize the importance of learning to swim. We will join hundreds of facilities around the world on the very same day trying to beat the world’s record for the number of people participating in a swim lesson.”
Drowning is the number one cause of death in children from ages from one to four and second leading cause of death in children ages one to 14. Community Programs implements educational programs and initiatives with the goal of increasing water safety awareness.
For access to the award-winning videos, more information on water safety and the City of Summit Department of Community Programs or Family Aquatic Center, please visit cityofsummit.org/recreation.