Recently, we released a document about the use of 12-15 passenger vans: 15 passenger vans – still in use, still deadly (versions: YMCA, JCC, Camps). The document reviews two recent news stories where passengers were killed from accidents in vans. In 2004 we started an initiative to raise awareness of the dangers in using 12-15 passenger...
Non-Swimmers Go for Green
A local news station in Florida recently released this story about the divisions of swimming ability in different races. They cited a statistic that 69% of African-American children have low swimming ability or cannot swim altogether. That relates to about every 3 out of 5 children – nearly double the amount of Caucasian non-swimmers. The YMCA...
Remaining Vigilant by The Y
This month the Y released an Aquatics Newsflash on Remaining Vigilant in aquatic environments. The Y reminds us that lifeguard vigilance is just as important the last few weeks of the summer, as it is the first week of the summer and all year round. In May lifeguards are excited to be at the...
Role Modeling at Camp
In 1996 I had my first experience at an overnight resident camp. I was 11 years old, and loved it. Fourteen years later I can tell you everything about my counselors that summer; what school they went to, what sports they played, what songs they liked, and every other detail of their lives. When...
Is Your Bus Clear?
Image used with permission from flickr.com When I was about 2 years old my mother locked me and her keys in the car. She immediately realized it and tried to tell me to open the door. I was too young to understand and thought we were playing a game. Inside the car I was content...
“Pool Safely” with Proper Supervision
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) created a new aquatic safety resource this summer – PoolSafely.gov. This month they plan “to announce a new water safety education module that supports efforts to prevent drowning and entrapment incidents in pools and spas nationwide.” Until then, they have released 7 short PSAs to raise awareness and...
How Are You Sharing the New Brand at Your Y?
On July 12th, the YMCA of the USA re-branded the Y with new logo, brand statements and focus areas. Doug McMillan, CEO of YMCA of the Triangle Area, sent the following email after the Y announced their changes. In his email, Doug hits on one of the key points the Y accomplished with the change:...
The Y vs. The Village People
Three days after the announcement of the YMCA’s new name and new look our country is divided into two camps: those who support the Y and those who support the Village People. Immediately following the press release of the Y, a spokesman for the Village People released this statement: “We are deeply dismayed by...
More than a summer job
NBC’s Today Show presented this ”urgent warning,” saving kids from drowning dangers last week. The story emphasizes the responsibilities of lifeguards to protect and save children’s lives. The above video tells the story of Drennen O’Melia, a 12 year old boy and strong swimmer. He drowned at a birthday party one day after a swim meet where he...
Redwoods Teaches America
Currently 10 Redwoods employees are volunteering with Teach for America. Employees help in a variety of ways from offering in-class assistance to grading papers out of the classroom. This week the Teach for America volunteer coordinator, Katherine Porter, commented on the Redwoods volunteers by saying: I recently checked in with all of the corps members...