Launch Year

CPSC launched the Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign in May of 2010.

In June 2010, the American Red Cross and The Y worked with the Pool Safely campaign to develop a public service announcement (PSA) campaign. Safe Kids USA and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) worked with the Pool Safely campaign in July 2010 to create an educational video and online activity for kids and parents. In August 2010, the Home Safety Council (HSC) worked with the Pool Safely campaign to conduct a national webinar for first responders to let them know about campaign resources they can use to help prevent drownings in their communities.

Abbey’s Hope and the World Waterpark Association are working with the Pool Safely campaign to highlight the need to make pool and spa safety a year-round pursuit at an event in September 2010.

In October and November 2010, the Pool Safely campaign will work with the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals to announce a new effort to engage industry in campaign outreach.

Campaign Safety Partners (CSPs) play a leading role in developing campaign resources and have a visible role in public events and announcements to promote the campaign’s messages. In 2010, each CSP will have been involved in a major campaign event:

June 2010 – The American Red Cross and The Y worked with CSPC Pool Safely campaign staff to develop broadcast public service announcements for radio and television and a series of print PSAs for trade magazines, billboards and transit systems .

The broadcast PSAs made their debut on NBC’s TODAY Show on July 1, 2010. In addition, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum and spokespersons from the American Red Cross and The Y participated in a national radio media tour to promote the availability of the PSAs. All of the PSAs are available in both English and Spanish. The English-language voiceover for the broadcast PSAs was provided by actress Ming-Na, former star of “ER” and the voice of Mulan in the Disney animated movies.

To view the television PSAs, visit the Pool Safely campaign video page.

July 2010 – Safe Kids USA and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) worked with CPSC Pool Safely campaign staff to create an educational video and online activity for kids and parents. The educational video includes an introduction featuring the voice of Ming-Na and seven individual chapters, which highlight important safety steps for families to incorporate into their own safety systems at pools and spas. The online activity challenges kids working with parents to identify unsafe pool and spa situations hidden in four different scenes. It also provides important safety tips to parents.

The educational video and online activity were debuted at an event in Houston, TX hosted by the Weekley Family YMCA. To view the educational video, visit the Pool Safely campaign YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/poolsafely. To play the online activity, visit the Parents & Families page or the NPDA and Safe Kids websites.

August 2010 – The Home Safety Council (HSC) worked with CPSC Pool Safely campaign staff to hold a national webinar for first responders, children’s health professionals and fire and emergency services to let these vital advocates know about the Pool Safely campaign resources they may use to prevent drowning incidents in their communities. The webinar was held in late August and challenged these professionals to make drowning prevention a priority over the Labor Day holiday.

The webinar can be viewed on the Home Safety Council website.

September 2010 – Abbey’s Hope and the World Waterpark Association (WWA) are working with CPSC Pool Safely campaign staff to raise awareness of the need for using simple steps to save lives all year round, not just during the summer swimming season. Abbey’s Hope and WWA will join CPSC at a public education event at an indoor water park. Check back for more information about this event in the near future.