SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – Over the past week, local Red Cross volunteers responded to five home fires in Taylorville, Farmer City, Benton, Decatur, and Nashville, assisting 17 people with immediate needs including shelter, health care, and emotional support. These incidents reflect just a portion of the more than 60,000 disasters the Red Cross handles across the U.S. each year.
As May marks Water Safety Month, the American Red Cross is also urging families to prepare for the summer swim season by learning to be “water smart.” Research shows that formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children aged one to four. The Red Cross teaches over 2.5 million people to swim annually through programs built on the latest science and safety practices.
“Preventing unsupervised access to water, constant adult supervision, and learning to swim are critical protections,” said Connie Harvey, director of Aquatics Centennial and Survival Programs. Families are also encouraged to learn CPR and first aid, so they’re prepared for emergencies.
To help teach kids water safety even outside the pool, the Red Cross has revamped its WHALE Tales Water Safety program, offering free downloadable lesson plans, videos, and activity sheets for children in kindergarten through 5th grade at redcross.org/WHALEtales.
The Centennial Campaign, launched in 2014, has reached nearly 100 communities nationwide, providing over 131,000 swim lessons, certifying thousands of lifeguards, and educating nearly 19,000 caregivers on water safety and CPR.
To learn more, find swim programs, or download the Red Cross Swim App, visit redcross.org/watersafety. Be safe, be prepared — and be “water smart.”