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SANTA BARBARA, CA – Might 3, 2023
Might is Nationwide Water Security Month, an annual observance geared toward stopping drowning incidents and preserving people secure in and round water.
Based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the main reason behind demise for kids ages 1 to 4 and the second main reason behind unintentional harm demise for kids ages 5 to 14 after motorcar crashes.
To fight these statistics, the Metropolis Parks and Recreation Division will present low-cost water security packages for youth residents. The packages goal to show kids ages six months to 17 years a variety of water security practices, together with fundamental swimming abilities, ocean security, and the best way to reply in an emergency.
“We take water security very severely and need to guarantee children in our neighborhood have the data and abilities vital to remain secure in and round water,” mentioned Tony Sholl, Aquatics Supervisor for the Metropolis of Santa Barbara. “Realizing the best way to swim is a essential life ability that everybody ought to have the ability to study, not simply those that can afford it.”
Swim Classes
Low-cost group swim classes will likely be supplied for kids six months to 12 years previous. Classes are separated by age and ability stage and will likely be supplied at Los Baños del Mar and Ortega Park Pool. Residents can register for a session of eight 30-minute classes for $50, roughly $6 per lesson. Every participant may also obtain a summer season swim move good for one grownup and two kids to take pleasure in recreation swim at Los Baños without cost.
Swim lesson scholarships, funded by the PARC Basis, can be found for residents who can not afford the charge. A profitable fundraising effort has additionally made 180 swimsuits out there for members in want to make sure kids can safely and comfortably study to swim within the applicable gear.
Junior Lifeguards
Santa Barbara Junior Lifeguards at East Seashore. | Credit score: Courtesy
Kids aged 7 to 17 who already know the best way to swim are inspired to attend the multi-week Junior Lifeguards program to study the abilities wanted to remain secure within the ocean and the way to reply to an emergency. Members are grouped by age for age-appropriate classes and actions, together with enjoyable seaside and water video games, all led by skilled seaside lifeguards. Over the course of this system, members acquire abilities in ocean security, hazard identification, first help, and surf lifesaving.
“The ocean is a completely completely different surroundings than a pool. The water is transferring and unpredictable; you don’t know what the construction of the sand is like underwater; there could possibly be rip currents,” mentioned Santa Barbara Junior Lifeguard Director Zane Sales space. “With the seaside at our doorstep, it’s so vital for teenagers to know the best way to hold themselves and others secure within the ocean.”
Sales space is a graduate of this system and a nationwide championship-winning lifeguard. In 2022, he introduced residence one gold and two bronze medals from the USA Lifesaving Affiliation (USLA) Nationwide Lifeguard Championships and completed in sixth place general.
Residents can register to attend the Junior Lifeguards program Monday via Friday for all eight weeks of summer season for $650, roughly $16 per day, or a single 3-week session for $345. Scholarships can be found for eligible households to attend this system without cost. These scholarships are funded by donations to the PARC Basis and distributed via SBPAL’s Campership Alliance program.
Lifeguard Certification Course
The Parks and Recreation Division will host a second reduced-cost lifeguard coaching course over Memorial Day weekend to extend the variety of neighborhood members with essential lifesaving abilities. Whereas a typical course prices round $200, residents can take part within the multi-day coaching for $50. Members who efficiently full the course will depart with American Pink Cross certifications in lifeguarding, CPR, AED, and first help and be outfitted to reply within the occasion of a water emergency. A 3rd reduced-cost course could also be added later this 12 months if neighborhood demand for the coaching stays excessive.
Registration is now open for all water security packages and is obtainable on a first-come-first-served foundation at SBParksAndRec.org. Households excited by scholarship alternatives should create their on-line accounts earlier than reaching out to Aquatics@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.
Extra details about swim classes may be discovered at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/SwimLessons.
Extra about Junior Lifeguards may be discovered at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/SummerCamp.
Teams and people excited by supporting water security programming scholarships can donate to the PARC Basis and point out “Aquatics” because the designation for his or her donation.