1. Water Safety Programs
Angela D. Mickalide, Ph.D., MCHES
Director of Research
National Drowning Prevention Alliance Symposium
March 9, 2012
San Diego, CA

2. The Story of Safe Kids
• Over 20 years ago, a pediatric trauma surgeon
by the name of Martin Eichelberger at
Children’s National Medical Center, in
Washington, DC, had a simple question:
Why was no one working to keep
children out of emergency rooms?
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3. Our Mission
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of
organizations with a mission of preventing
unintentional childhood injury, a leading
cause of death and disability for children
ages 14 and under.
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4. Grassroots Strength
Together we protect families from preventable injuries
through research, education, programs, environmental
improvements and advocacy.
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5. Where We Are

6. Coalition Overview
380 State and Local Safe Kids Coalitions
43 State Offices and State Coalitions
337 Local Coalitions
Approximately 225 chapters 6

7. Lead Agency Types
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8. Pool and Spa Safety
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9. Pool & Spa Safety Program
Safe Kids received funding from the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to:
• Provide coalition grants
to our network
• Develop and distribute
pool and spa safety
educational materials
• Execute public education
and media outreach
efforts
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10. Coalition Program Grants
• Residential Pool and Spa Safety Pilot Program
• Partner with emergency responders, local pool and spa retailers
and professionals
• Provide free home pool and spa safety checks and general safety
recommendations
• Pool and Spa Safety Education Program
• Organize regional education seminars/events to educate parents,
caregivers, children, pool and spa owners and the community
about safe pool and spa environments, key drowning and
entrapment prevention messages; layers of protection
• Water Rapid Response Program
• Support media outreach and public education immediately
following a drowning or near drowning incident in the local
community
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11. Coalition Programs
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12. Grant Overview
• Safe Kids awarded 67 grants to coalitions in 28 states:
• Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,
Wisconsin
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13. Program Toolkit
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14. Media Outreach
• Satellite Media Tour
• Partnered with Olympic medalist
Amanda Beard to promote pool
and spa safety messages through
national and local television
networks
• Radio Media Tour
• Promoted pool and spa safety
messages through regional and
state radio networks
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15. Media Outreach
• Social Media Outreach
• Pool and spa safety, drowning prevention and Pool Safely
information were communicated regularly through Facebook
(Safe Kids) and Twitter (@safekidsusa)
• Facebook campaign generated
• 107,490,100 Facebook impressions
• Reach of at least 27,103,340
• 52,271,122 social impressions
• Social Media Giveaway
• Pool & Spa Safety Information Kits
• Brochures, tip sheets, Water Watcher cards
• Pool Safely fans, temporary tattoos
• Water Safety Activity Book
• Beach ball and whistle
http://www.safekids.org/water
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16. Coalition Program Grants 2012
• Pool Safety Education Program
• Up to 60 grants of $1,500-$4,000 each will be available to
Safe Kids coalitions
• Organize educational sessions and events to teach parents,
caregivers, children, pool and spa owners and the community
about safe pool and spa environments, key drowning and
entrapment prevention messages; layers of protection
• Water Rapid Response Program
• Up to 15 grants of $500 each will be available to Safe Kids
coalitions
• Support media outreach and public education immediately
following a drowning or near drowning incident in the local
community
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17. Start Safe: Water
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18. Start Safe: Water
• Designed in partnership with the National Head Start
Association, water safety experts and funded by the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Delivered to children and caregivers through Safe Kids
coalitions and the fire service
• Distributed 8,000 copies of the program in 2011
• Program expansion includes creation of an pictorial and
animated DVD – in both English and Spanish
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19. Start Safe: Water
• Key messages for children ages 2 to 4
• Lock, Look, Learn (layers of protection)
• Materials available in English and Spanish for educators,
parents/caregivers and children
• Cover Letter for Educators
• Instructor Guide
• Parent and Caregiver Booklet
• Story Book and Stickers for Children
• Flash Cards
• Safety Rangers Poster
• Online Games for Caregivers and Children
• http://www.artgig.com/preview/hsc_getwet_3-31
• http://www.artgig.com/preview/hsc_water_3-31
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20. Program Materials
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22. Program Distribution
• 8,000 kits distributed nationwide on April 1, 2011
• 4,300 to Head Start Centers in the 12 states with the
highest rates of pool drowning: FL, AZ, MS, CA, GA,
LA, NV, SC, OK, TN, TX, and VA
• 38,700 teachers
• 438,600 children
• 2,500 to Expert Network members and Safe Kids
Coalitions and Chapters
• 1,200 at conference presentations
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23. Contact Information
Angela D. Mickalide, PhD, MCHES
Director, Research
Safe Kids Worldwide
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
202 662 0625
amickalide@safekids.org
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