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Safe Kids In Action
The Problem
The Program This year marked the 14th Annual Wacky Water Wahoo. Each May, the event is hosted in Oklahoma City at the White Water Bay Water Park. Wacky Water Wahoo targets 3rd and 4th grade students who participate in the Oklahoma Schools for Healthy Lifestyles Program, a program that provides school-based health education in public schools. Through coordination with the staff at Schools for Healthy Lifestyles, about 14 schools across the greater metropolitan area transport nearly 1400 students to participate in a half-day water safety education event. The schools are divided into groups and participate in hands-on learning strategies with water safety educators that address drowning risks inside the home, in their backyard, at the pool or in open water. Each student also learns how to identify the right size of life jacket, and practices putting it on during the life jacket relay game. After the lesson, children get plenty of supervised free swim time in the water. The Partners Community partners from the American Red Cross, Army Corp of Engineers, YMCA, local community college aquatics programs, OKC Fire Department, Department of Education, and many other agencies and organizations provide planning and volunteers to help staff the event. From the Coordinator We hope that our approach to drowning prevention education helps the children retain what they learn at our event. The education they receive is comprehensive, and addresses ways they can help spread the message of safety to their parents, friends or younger siblings. While we know in the field of prevention, it is sometimes impossible to measure outcomes of education on deaths and injuries reduced due to our efforts, we are certain that the programs established at Safe Kids Oklahoma undoubtedly saves lives. More Information Lauren Farrah Photos from the Event
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The drowning problems in Oklahoma communities align closely with those in other areas across the nation, with toddlers and preschool age children being at highest risk of drowning or near-drowning occurrences. In Oklahoma, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death among children 1 to 14 years of age.
