Water safety event has fun, life-saving lessons
It was part pool party, part water safety class Friday when Rose State College hosted 450 metro-area kindergartners for five sessions of Wee Water Wahoo.
“It’s been awesome. They are so energetic,” said Jasmine Washington, a sophomore sports science major from Oklahoma City.
Washington was among the volunteer corps of college and high school students who helped the little ones in the pool learn basic water skills like floating, blowing bubbles, moving their arms and legs, and putting their face in the water without being afraid.
This is the 20th year for Wee Water Wahoo, said Devon Sisson, director of Safe Kids Oklahoma, which offers the program.
“We try to make it fun. We don’t want to scare them, but we want to get the message across at the same time,” Sisson said.
Before the children get in the pool, they meet with Oklahoma City firefighters and members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to learn about water safety.
Sisson said three things are emphasized — never swim without an adult watching, wear a life jacket and take swimming lessons.
Drowning is the second most common cause of death for Oklahoma children from birth to 14, after passenger safety issues, Sisson said. More children drown in swimming pools than anywhere else, followed by bathtubs and lakes, she said.
After learning their safety lesson, the children put on bright yellow, orange and red life jackets and took the plunge. Most couldn’t wait to get in the water, but a few hesitated and clung to the necks of their older buddies until they felt comfortable splashing around.
All too soon, the whistle signaled it was time get out of the pool.
Sisson said Safe Kids Oklahoma reaches out to schools where the students don’t have the resources for water safety education.
Rose State aquatics coordinator Kim Queri said the program not only helps the little ones learn water safety skills, but provides good experience for the college students who want to work as swimming instructors and coaches.
The 150 new life jackets used Friday were provided by Cabela’s at a discount, Sisson said. They will go to state lake parks to become loaners for families who need them through the Brittany Project, named for 4-year-old Brittany Mobley, who drowned May 26, 1996, at Lake Thunderbird.