SCPFD Partners with Golisano Children’s Hospital and EMSC to Prevent Drowning
San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District recently partnered with Golisano Children’s Hospital and Florida Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) to prevent drowning in our community. Members of SCPFD and Golisano came together at San Carlos Park Elementary to educate Kindergartners on the three water safety rules they must learn before going near water:
1. You must learn to swim.
2. You must always wear your life vest.
3. Most importantly, you must always have a grown-up watching you whenever you are near the water.
In Florida, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under age 5 and the second leading cause in children ages 5-14. This community outreach effort was a part of EMS Week which is May 15th-21st and included an interactive water safety story and a tour of the Golisano Neonatal and Pediatric Ambulance. Kindergarten students at San Carlos Park Elementary were read Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim, a child’s first guide to water safety. Written for children ages two through six, the book conveys an important message of how to be safe near the water through the story of Stewie, a duck who wants to swim with the ‘big ducks,’ but is prevented from going in the water by his older sister until he learns the water safety rules.
Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim mobile app for iPad and iPhone is now available free of charge (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stewie-the-duck-learns-to-swim/id514573567?mt=8). The ibook features read-to-me audio and contains interactive animations, sound effects, a memory game, and a sing-along.