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6th Annual International Water Safety Day

By Paula DiGrigoli

May 14, 2018

Florida Department of Health in Collier County Logo

Stewie the Duck visits preschool children in Naples 

Naples, Fla.— The NCH Safe Healthy Children’s Coalition has partnered with Collier Child Care Resources, Inc. (CCCR) to celebrate International Water Safety Day (#WSD2018) by bringing “Stewie the Duck” (water safety mascot) to two CCCR preschools - Child’s Path and Little Wonders. The children will learn how to be safe near the water through the story of

Stewie the Duck. The 3-5-year-olds just completed a 10-day water safety program through Swim Central, funded through Naples Children’s Education Foundation.
Stewie is a duck who wants to swim with the big ducks, but is prevented from going into the water by his older sisters until he learns the water safety rules (don’t jump in until you learn to swim, wear a life jacket, a grown-up must watch you in the pool). Each child (77 in total) will receive a Stewie the Duck book donated and read by Lisa Gruenloh, president of Purpose Journey Inc. and NCH employee, Gruenloh is a former lifeguard and swim instructor and has served on the Coalition’s drowning prevention committee for several years.

When: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Where: 9:00 a.m. - Childs Path (3144 Santa Barbara Blvd, 34116) 10:00 a.m. - Little Wonders (Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 777 Mooring Line Drive, 34102)

International Water Safety Day is designed to help spread global awareness of the ongoing drowning pandemic and educate the youth in becoming safer in and around water. The lack of water safety education has propelled drownings worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, every hour, every day, more than 40 people lose their lives to drowning. 372,000 people drown each year, with those under 5 years old at greatest risk. Globally, over half of all drowning deaths are under 25 years old.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4 in Florida. Florida’s drowning death rate among children ages 1-4 is the highest in the nation. Collier County had 3 children under of the age of 5 drown in 2017. Enough children drown each year in Florida to fill three to four preschool classrooms. Drowning deaths are 100% preventable and can happen to anyone all year around.

For more information, contact Paula DiGrigoli at (239) 537-3436.

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