YMCA AQUATICS PRESS KIT

Transcription

1 YMCA AQUATICS PRESS KIT YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA... MAKING AQUATIC ACTIVITIES PART OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Rowdy Gaines Press Release 2 Rowdy Gaines Photo 3 Drowning Fact Sheet 4 Safe Start Press Release 5 Letter of Survival 6 Safe Start Montage 7 April Pools Day Press Release 8 YMCA Aquatics Fact Sheet 9 Eyes On Water Safety Card

3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dori Madison March 28, 2014 (407) U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Swimmer Rowdy Gaines named Vice President of the YMCA Aquatic Center ORLANDO, FL The YMCA of Central Florida has announced that Rowdy Gaines, three-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, will be joining the YMCA Aquatic Center as Vice President of Aquatics. Gaines, known as the fastest human in the water over the age of 50, sees this as a great opportunity to continue to grow the YMCA Aquatics Center s programs, which range from competitive to recreational in nature. Swimming is a lifestyle, a lifelong activity for anyone who chooses to get in the water, says Gaines. At the Aquatics Center, there s a place for everyone, regardless of their skill set, and I m excited to be a part of an organization that recognizes the importance of swimming and getting people engaged in the water. A Florida native who failed at five other sports before finding his niche in the water at the age of 17, Gaines has been an ambassador for the sport of swimming since winning three gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. As Chief Fundraising and Alumni Officer for USA Swimming, he helped promote the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Unfortunately, as a result of cultural barriers or never having access to lessons, many people don t know how to swim, and this is a big reason why drowning deaths are so prevalent across the country and especially in Florida, where there are so many lakes, pools and other bodies of water, Gaines explains. Providing affordable access to swim lessons is critical, as is spreading awareness that there are many ways to enjoy the water as part of a healthy lifestyle. For more information, please contact Dori Madison at (407) or jroth@cfymca.org. About the YMCA Aquatic Center In 1994, one of the largest and most well-known aquatic facilities in the country the Justus Aquatic Center became a part of the Central Florida YMCA. Today, the YMCA Aquatic Center consists of three heated indoor pools, totaling more than 1 million gallons of water. The facility also boasts a wellness center that offers the newest weight machines, a full cardio theater and a 1,200-sq-ft. free weight area. A national training site for many U.S. Olympic athletes, the Center s competitive programs have helped many young swimmers acquire the skills necessary to compete at high levels. These programs are complimented by fitness and wellness offerings such as spinning, kick-boxing, aerobics (both land and water), racquetball, and a golf center. ###

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5 FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DROWNING FACT SHEET Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4, and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages. For toddlers (children ages 1 to 4 years), swimming pools pose the greatest risk of submersion injury. For every child less than 15 years old who dies from drowning in a pool, another 10 receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. Nonfatal drowning can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functions. Increased access to water is major risk factor for drowning. Children who live near open water sources, such as ditches, ponds, irrigation channels, or pools are especially at risk. Florida loses more children under age 5 to drowning than any other state. Annually in Florida, enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms drown and do not live to see their 5th birthday. Florida overwhelmingly has the highest unintentional drowning rate in the nation for the 1 4 year old age group in 2010 with a drowning rate of 7.29 per 100,000 population. Florida also had the highest drowning number and rate in the nation for the 1 14 population in 2010 with a drowning rate of 2.67 per 100,000 population. Media-reported drownings show that in 2012, the following states suffered the largest number of drownings deaths involving children 14 and younger (figures may not account for all fatalities): 1. Florida (42) 2. Texas (36) 3. California (34) 4. Arizona (24) 5. Michigan (19) 6. Ohio (17) 7. Alabama (15) 8. Pennsylvania (11) 9. Kentucky (9) 10. Tennessee (8) 11. North Carolina (8) Courtesy Florida Department of Health and Consumer Product Safety Commission

6 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dori Madison March 28, 2014 (407) YMCA Celebrates Safe Start s 12 th Anniversary and 12,000th Enrollee Drowning prevention and infant survival are the YMCA s biggest priorities heading into the summer swim season ORLANDO, FL The YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Safe Start s 12 th Anniversary and 10,000th enrollee by emphasizing the importance of water safety and infant survival as the spring and summer swim seasons approach. The YMCA has also tasked adults with committing to doing their part as the eyes on water adult on duty whenever they are around water with children. This is all part of a YMCA of Central Florida swim safety initiative designed to increase awareness of the importance of drowning prevention and saving the lives of infants who live near water. Florida loses more children between the ages of 0-14 to drowning than any other state. In fact, each year, enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms drown and do not live to see their 5 th birthday. With a combination of its warm weather and open water sources (including the ocean, lakes, rivers and pools), Florida is an aquatic lovers paradise, but it is also a high-risk environment for those who can t swim. Our goal is to reach that child before an accident happens says Karen Faust, Safe Start Instructor Development and Training Specialist at the YMCA of Central Florida. We re teaching the children how to be aquatic problem solvers, and we re also teaching the parents that drowning is a silent event and can happen very quickly, without anyone realizing it. Most parents think it can t happen to them, but it can, and they need to realize that. Safe Start is the most comprehensive drowning prevention program in the United States and has been implemented in YMCA s throughout the region. Beginning at the age of 6 months, children are taught to turn from face down in the water to face up and into a comfortable back float position. At 12 months old, children learn how to swim, rotate onto the back and float, and then turn back over and continue swimming to safety. The YMCA Safe Start program has been an incredible tool in helping me to protect and guide my children when it comes to water safety, says Tyler Mckenzie, local radio host of z88.3 s Mornings with Ellis and Tyler. My children love swimming now but more importantly are learning life-saving skills. The Safe Start instructors are making a huge impact in the lives of our children. Safe Start is just one of the ways in which the YMCA of Central Florida is taking the lead when it comes to creating awareness around not only swim safety, but the importance of swimming as a healthy lifestyle choice for all Central Floridians. (MORE)

7 page 2 About Safe Start Safe Start was created through the collaborative effort of the Dr. P. Phillips Charities, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR), and the Central Florida YMCA. Through a generous grant from the Dr. P. Phillips Charities, Safe Start, the most comprehensive drowning prevention program in the United States, has been made available at selected YMCA Family Centers in the Central Florida area. The Safe Start program is a comprehensive six week course. Five days per week, for a maximum of 10 minutes per day, a child works with a certified Safe Start instructor to master the survival swim techniques. The child learns the techniques in swimwear and also in street clothes, as most drownings occur when a child is taking part in his/her normal day. Children are taught in a one-to-one setting, where the instructor is focused solely on one child. Parents, who must be present during the lessons, are educated about all aspects of aquatic safety through interviews, observations, and the Safe Start Parent Resource Book. About The YMCA of Central Florida The YMCA of Central Florida is committed to strengthening the foundation of the local communities it serves in Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. This Y is a diverse organization of 6300 volunteers and staff joined by a shared commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Each day 35,000+ Central Florida residents are impacted by the Y through 53 afterschool programs, chronic disease prevention programs and bringing communities together for common good. In 2013, this YMCA Association impacted over 235,000 residents and raised $11,115,000 to deliver its cause to area children, individuals and families. ###

8 FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LETTER OF SURVIVAL Mark and Leslie Kleeb 781 Pickerington Place Oviedo, FL I would like to take a moment to thank you for offering the Safe Start program through the YMCA with the assistance of the Dr. Phillips Foundation. Our son, Ryan, has been attending class for four weeks and we had a moment last weekend that proved how valuable this program is to children. We were at a neighbor s pool over the weekend and I was in the pool with Ryan. He decided to get out of the pool and play next to it with a ball. I stayed in the pool, where he was playing (just in case) and was watching my other child. Ryan s ball fell in the water and he reached in to get it and fell in. Luckily he fell next to me, but I decided to see what he would do since I may not always be right there. He immediately turned over to float on his back and lay there floating until I got him. If I had not been there, he would have been safe because he knew what to do. The skills that your program has taught Ryan can save his life. There are too many cases of drownings in this area and as you can see, our child has no fear of the water. Fortunately, he now knows what to do in the water should he ever fall in again. I cannot tell you how much we appreciate what you have provided to our child, as his safety is the most important thing to us. He may cry during his class because he has to work, but he has learned tools that will save his life, and that is worth every tear! Thank you again for providing such an important service! Sincerely, Leslie Kleeb Mark Kleeb

9 SAFE START YMCA of Central Florida

10 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dori Madison March 28, 2014 (407) YMCA Announces April 1 as April Pools Day to Kick Off Summer Swim Season It s all part of making the Central Florida community mindful of water safety and aquatics as part of a healthy lifestyle. ORLANDO, FL The YMCA of Central Florida has announced April Pools Day in an effort to get the local community ready for a safe spring and summer swim season. All Central Florida YMCA pools will be open on April Fools Day (April 1) and will be hiring an additional 200+ aquatics staff to gear up for summer. April Pools Day officially represents the opening of all YMCA of Central Florida pools and will showcase a community aquatics/water awareness day at Y family centers in Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. The purpose of these events is to stress the importance of water safety and making aquatic activities part of a healthy lifestyle. Florida loses more children between the ages of 0-14 to drowning than any other state. In fact, each year, enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms drown and do not live to see their 5 th birthday. With a combination of its warm weather and open water sources (including the ocean, lakes, rivers and pools), Florida is an aquatic lovers paradise, but it is also a high-risk environment for those who can t swim. Our goal is to reach these children before accidents happen, says Karen Faust, Safe Start Instructor Development and Training Specialist at the YMCA of Central Florida. We re teaching infants how to float and toddlers/children how to swim, rotate onto the back and float, and then turn back over and continue swimming to safety. We re also making parents aware that drownings happen quickly, even when there are adults around watching. It can happen in the blink of an eye, and it s important that parents understand this so they can take all necessary precautions. As part of April Pools Day, there will be water safety demonstrations, Safe Start (infant survival) demonstrations, and other demonstrations for aquatic activities including progressive swim lessons, swim teams, water fitness, triathlon training and more. As a result of cultural barriers or never having access to lessons, many people don t know how to swim, which leads to drowning deaths and also prevents people from taking advantage of the benefits of swimming, says Rowdy Gaines, Olympic gold medalist and YMCA of Central Florida Vice President of Aquatics. Our goal is to provide affordable access to swim lessons and spread awareness that there are many ways to enjoy the water as part of a healthy lifestyle. (MORE)

11 page 2 About The YMCA of Central Florida The YMCA of Central Florida is committed to strengthening the foundation of the local communities it serves in Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. This Y is a diverse organization of 6300 volunteers and staff joined by a shared commitment to Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Each day 35,000+ Central Florida residents are impacted by the Y through 53 afterschool programs, chronic disease prevention programs and bringing communities together for common good. In 2013, this YMCA Association impacted over 235,000 residents and raised $11,115,000 to deliver its cause to area children, individuals and families. About Safe Start Safe Start was created through the collaborative effort of the Dr. P. Phillips Charities, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR), and the Central Florida YMCA. Through a generous grant from the Dr. P. Phillips Charities, Safe Start, the most comprehensive drowning prevention program in the United States, has been made available at selected YMCA Family Centers in the Central Florida area. The Safe Start program is a comprehensive six week course. Five days per week, for a maximum of 10 minutes per day, a child works with a certified Safe Start instructor to master the survival swim techniques. The child learns the techniques in swimwear and also in street clothes, as most drownings occur when a child is taking part in his/her normal day. Children are taught in a one-to-one setting, where the instructor is focused solely on one child. Parents, who must be present during the lessons, are educated about all aspects of aquatic safety through interviews, observations, and the Safe Start Parent Resource Book. ###

12 FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY YMCA AQUATICS PROGRAMS FACT SHEET The YMCA s progressive aquatics programs makes swim lessons and programs available to every age group and skill level from 6 months to 106, starting with parent/ child swim lessons and moving through Safe Start, preschool, youth, aquatic sports and adult swim lessons. The YMCA of Central Florida has 30 pools holding 5,750,332 gallons of water. Wayne Densch YMCA (Pine Hills) The YMCA of Central Florida s 6 zero-depth pools allow kids to become comfortable with the water s environment so they can learn water skills easier, and allow seniors and the physically challenged to enter a pool independently. Millions of Americans have learned to swim at the Y, including Olympic gold medalists Cullen Jones and Ian Crocker, as well as former President Ronald Reagan. YMCA lifeguards undergo rigorous training, including ongoing drills and development, which ensures they are knowledgeable about teaching methods, children s developmental stages and aquatic safety. Titusville YMCA Safe Start is the most comprehensive drowning prevention program in the United States and has been implemented in YMCA s throughout the Central Florida region. Rowdy Gaines, the new Vice President of YMCA of Central Florida Aquatics, is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Scholarships (made possible by generous donations) are available to help those who might not be able to afford swim lessons take part in the Y s aquatic programs. Leading into swim season, the YMCA of Central Florida hires more than 220 lifeguards and summer camp staff. YMCA Aquatic Center

13 I AM KEEPING MY EYES ON WATER TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

14 I COMMIT TO DO MY PART AS THE EYES ON WATER ADULT ON DUTY TODAY BY Constantly watching the children in and around the water Giving this tag to another adult who agrees to keep their Eyes on Water and the children if I need to step away for any reason Checking that all gates and doors to the water are locked and two or more barriers to the water are in place Making sure I have access to rescue equipment and have emergency phone numbers with me Being sure no children are around the water without my presence once I leave Drowning is silent and fast. Supervision is the best way to prevent drowning. For more information about swim lessons or training classes, call or SafeStart@cfymca.org

15 I AM KEEPING MY EYES ON WATER TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

16 I COMMIT TO DO MY PART AS THE EYES ON WATER ADULT ON DUTY TODAY BY Constantly watching the children in and around the water Giving this tag to another adult who agrees to keep their Eyes on Water and the children if I need to step away for any reason Checking that all gates and doors to the water are locked and two or more barriers to the water are in place Making sure I have access to rescue equipment and have emergency phone numbers with me Being sure no children are around the water without my presence once I leave Drowning is silent and fast. Supervision is the best way to prevent drowning. For more information about swim lessons or training classes, call or SafeStart@cfymca.org