'WaterSafe' event focuses on drowning prevention education

The second-annual, free event was held on June 3 at the Frieda Zamba swimming pool.

By Paige Wilson
| 12:00 p.m. June 3, 2017

Eliana Mendez, 7, and Daniela Mendez, 8, learn CPR at the Flagler County Fire Rescue table. Photo by Paige Wilson

The Daytona Tortuga mascot Shelldon holds Michael Oleshak-Esposito, 3. Photo by Paige Wilson

Antonio Amaral, 8, weighs himself before filling out a personal information card. Photo by Paige Wilson

Regan Goff, 8, practices throwing a ring life preserver to Bill Kerek of Flagler County Fire Rescue in the water. Photo by Paige Wilson

The Flagler County Sheriff' s Office table features dive gear the Marine Patrol and Dive Units use. Photo by Paige Wilson

Christopher Jones, 5, rides on his grandmother Deanna Arthur' s back, in the water. Photo by Paige Wilson

Mermaid Gemma talks with Sadie Shiflett, 4. Photo by Paige Wilson

Byrce Marshall, 4, plays in the water with his mother Adrienne Barnes. Photo by Paige Wilson

Noemi Malinowski, 8, (right) looks at a safety information card while her mother Marta Malinowski talks with her daughters Narelle, 6, and Neyla, 3. Photo by Paige Wilson

Locals came to the Frieda Zamba swimming pool to learn water safe tips. Photo by Paige Wilson

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Two Palm Coast children died in separate drowning events in 2016, and in the hopes of preventing that from happening again, Dr. Kristen McCabe, Flagler County’s EMS medical director, and EMT Jim Caggiano, Outreach coordinator for Flagler County Fire Rescue, joined forces on June 3 to hold the second-annual WaterSafe event.

Locals were invited to attend the free event at the Frieda Zamba swimming pool on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon to learn water safety tips from professionals, as well as splash around and enjoy the water.

“We really want to make sure we keep our community safe,” McCabe said. “We will be there to help if there is an issue, but the goal is to avoid that happening. There are things that happen to our children that we can’t prevent, but this is one of the things we can.”

McCabe said teaching children to help themselves is one of the best ways to prevent future water-related injuries or deaths.

“I have experienced child death situations as an EMT,” Caggiano said. “Prevention is the best situation.”

Marta Malinowski brought her daughters Noemi, 8, Narelle, 6, and Neyla, 3, to the event because her mother-in-law's house has a pool, and she wants her girls to learn how to be safe in and around it.

Guests were given passports to get stamped at the educational booths around the pool to encourage learning while having fun. Some of the tables included free trinkets and safety brochures for families to take home. The Daytona Tortugas’ mascot Shelldon waddled around to greet children and added an element of fun alongside the Chick-fil-A cow mascot and Mermaid Gemma in the water.

“When you look around, you see the kids learning very important things, but they’re also having a ball,” McCabe said.

Dr. Kristin McCabe, Flagler County’s EMS Medical Director, recommends these water safety tips:

Designated watcher: Have at least one designated adult watch children in the water at all times. She suggests that adult puts something around their neck like an identification card or a whistle. When that person needs a break, switch the tag over to another adult so that there’s constant supervision over the children.
Buddy system: Always swim with a buddy, especially in the ocean with forces like currents that can separate people.
“Throw, not go”: Always keep something around your pool, like a ring life preserver, that could be thrown into the water to help someone who’s struggling without putting someone else’s life in jeopardy by jumping into the water.
Infant swim rescue: Sign up your infant for short, but frequent lessons to learn how to float on their backs to prevent drowning in case they end up in the water. These classes are usually about 10 minutes long, four to five times a week, over a period of four to eight weeks.