Adults and children everywhere are encouraged to take the Pool Safely Pledge

Ashburn, Va. (July 19, 2018) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is proud to partner with Pool Safely, a national public education campaign from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to promote the importance of water safety at park and recreation facilities nationwide. As a partner with this campaign, NRPA encourages park and recreation professionals, along with parents, caregivers and children, to take the Pool Safely Pledge, which is a call-to-action for adults and kids everywhere to commit to specific steps to be safer in and around the water.

Specifically, kids will pledge to never swim alone, ask for swim lessons and stay away from drains. Adults will pledge to always designate a water watcher, learn CPR, ensure their kids know how to swim, remove portable pool ladders when not in use and make sure their pools have proper fencing, gates and drain covers. More than 75,000 adults and children, including 14 Olympians, have taken the Pledge to date. To take the Pledge, visit PoolSafely.gov/Pledge.   

“NRPA is proud to join CPSC and so many other influential organizations in promoting the Pool Safely campaign,” said Barbara Tulipane, CAE, NRPA president and CEO. “Our organization is committed to bringing awareness to the importance of water safety and the Pool Safely Pledge at park and recreation facilities across the country.”     

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of unintentional death among children ages 1–4. According to 2018 CPSC data, approximately 350 children tragically drown in pools and spas annually. Furthermore, research shows that 64 percent of African-American children and 45 percent of Hispanic children have no/low swimming ability.

To learn more about Pool Safely and the importance of water safety, visit PoolSafely.gov.           

To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.   

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About the National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.