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April Pools Day background and history
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The Seattle-King County Drowning Prevention Coalition was formed in 1991 with a small grant ($8,000) from the US Center’s for Disease Control (CDC) administered through the Washington State Department of Health – Injury Prevention Programs. Throughout its history, coalition leadership has been provided by Public Health-Seattle & King County with consultation provided by the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and the Washington State Department of Health. Goals in the early years of the coalition included reducing all drowning (drowning deaths and drowning survivors) in the King County area. By studying factors leading to or guarding against drowning it was felt significant prevention efforts could reduce these highly preventable tragedies.
Specific goals included reducing drowning in open water situations such as lakes, rivers, and Puget Sound. Goals also included reducing drowning in private and regulated swimming pools, spas and water parks. Efforts were also made to reduce drowning in bathtubs, toilets and buckets around the house
The initial CDC funds lasted two years and helped establish one of the largest and most broad based drowning prevention coalitions in the country. Members include numerous city and the county parks departments, local marine patrol units, victim’s groups, boating groups, the Washington State Insurance Council, the American Red Cross, US Coast Guard and many, many others. When CDC funding ended, the Coalition was able to continue through funding from the Public Health Department-Seattle & King County, Environmental Health Division. Work included establishing the annual April Pools Day water safety event statewide as well as tracking and investigation of individual cases. 2005 is the 12th year of April Pool’s Day.
Subsequent funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Emergency Medical Services for Children, administered through the Washington Department of Health-Injury and Trauma Prevention, with coordination by Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center allowed our local coalition to become part of the Statewide Drowning Prevention Network efforts and continue work. This funding lasted for four years total. Efforts include concentrating on drowning prevention for children and working on adolescent risk reduction. The Coalition continues its work on promoting water safety through examination of cases, networking on the various water safety issues, encouraging legislation such as the children’s lifejacket law, prohibiting swimming in the Lake Washington Canal and the successful April Pools Day event.
When the Seattle-King County Drowning Prevention Coalition was formed, we looked at various water safety events around the country. In the early 1990’s in the Phoenix/Maricopa County area of Arizona, they were having on average, a child a day drown in mostly backyard pools. They decided to focus on private pool water safety and encourage CPR skills among residents. They had an event called “April Pools Day” where they trained some 40,000 people at Sun Devil Stadium on CPR techniques. We knew from data that private pool drowning was rarer here and that many citizens did in fact already know CPR. We also knew that more comprehensive water safety education was needed here because of the multiple sources of risk such as salt water, lakes, rivers, backyard ponds, apartment and motel pools, and just all the water in the area.
The Coalition decided to have an annual April Pools Day event whereby families and others could go to the local pool and get safely prepared for our seasonal water related activities. Boating, swimming, fishing, camping near a river or lake, spas, pools, and just hanging in or around water is a large part of the culture of the area. By making a day where pools open up and welcome kids and families to learn about water safety in a fun, inviting atmosphere, we are helping to decrease the chances that someone will lose their life in a submersion incident.
It was decided that promotion of lifejacket usage would significantly improve water safety as would swim lessons, good supervision, and reduction of alcohol use around the water. We designed April Pools Day to include a free swim so that community members can get more familiar with their local facility. It also includes the opportunity to have the family lifejackets checked for fit and function and even allow people to put the jackets on and jump in the water so they are more comfortable using them. Each individual pool designs the program that best fits their need but usually includes water safety demonstrations and “hands on” practice such as reaching assists and use of improvised rescue equipment.
Partnerships have been very strong for April Pools Day. Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center has provided materials and support for this event while, the American Red Cross for Kitsap and King Counties, Seattle Parks, King County Parks, and the Washington Recreation and Parks Association Aquatic Section has been very helpful with overall coordination of the event by working with the various parks departments, and community and private pools. The King County Executive’s Office has been very supportive of this event by having the previous KC Executive Gary Locke and now, current KC Executive Ron Sims participates in the now annual April Pools Day press event. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels also helped one year. The press event brings attention to April Pools Day itself, promotes water safety, and provides recognition for water safety heroes.
List of pools and beaches participating in April Pools Day, 2008 (PDF)
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