PRESS RELEASE
Bus Ads and Community Presentations
Will Help Prevent Drowning This Summer

Contact: Mary Salisbury
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois
217-522-1129
www.preventchildabuseillinois.org

Springfield, ILLINOIS. May, 2006 -- The "Get Water Wise…SUPERVISE!" drowning prevention campaign reminds the public to help prevent child drowning tragedies by providing adult supervision when children are in or near water. Entering its fourth year of promoting child water safety, the campaign is a collaborative effort of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA Illinois), the American Red Cross Illinois Capital Area Chapter, the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), and the Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH).

This year, parents and caregivers will see the important "Get Water Wise…SUPERVISE message on the inside of buses throughout Illinois as part of the Campaign's continuing effort to prevent drowning. "As warm weather approaches, children will be naturally drawn to beaches, and public and residential swimming pools. That's why adults need to protect these children by keeping a watchful eye every moment they are in or near water," said Roy Harley, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. "One goal of the coalition is to reinforce the message that supervision and vigilance have proven to be effective measures to prevent accidental drowning of children younger than 15 years of age."

In addition to using bus cards to get this important message across, the drowning prevention statewide committee is also developing a "Get Water Wise…SUPERVISE" slide presentation, which will soon be available on CD in PowerPoint™ format. The presentation will address the need for supervision and swimming pool, bathtub and bucket safety. It will be suitable for use at parent help groups, babysitting clinics, in-service for childcare providers, etc

The Water Wise campaign came about as a recommendation from the Illinois Child Death Review Team (CDRT) in 2001. After reviewing deaths due to drowning, (in bathtubs, pools, rivers, septic tanks, etc) the team submitted recommendations to DCFS on the importance of a visible campaign to remind the public that drowning is a swift, silent occurrence that can be avoided when parents, guardians and other care providers exercise constant supervision of children in their care participating in water activities.

"It only takes one inch of water for a child to drown," said DCFS Director Bryan Samuels. "That's why it is critically important never to leave a child alone in or near water. The old adage, 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure', really hits home when it comes to the preventable tragedy of childhood drowning."

The Illinois Child Death Review Team Act became a law in 1994 and established nine CDRTs in Illinois. The teams review cases where there may have been issues related to child abuse or neglect. The purpose of the review is to make recommendations that could prevent similar deaths in the future. The teams are multi-disciplinary, voluntary and are facilitated throughout the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. All 102 counties are covered by one of the nine teams.

The "Get Water Wise…SUPERVISE!" Drowning Prevention Committee invites you to call 217-785-0429 for a free copy of the new CD presentation, brochures and posters.

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