Program helps with water safety

     By Tina Allen
     View staff writer
      Clark County school children are getting a "splash" course in water safety through an educational newspaper titled "Wet 'n Wise."
      The paper, created by Wet 'n Wild water parks and printed by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, has been distributed to Clark County School District elementary pupils for about six years at the beginning of the swimming season.
      Copies also are available at Wet 'n Wild, on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.
      "This is the time of year when people are starting to use their pools, and it's a time of year to remind them, even if they already know the right steps, what they need to do and remind them of pool safety," said Dave Wright, director of marketing at Wet 'n Wild. "So before everyone is in the pools and lots of things are happening, we get the word out there."
      In addition, KVVU-TV, Channel 5, is providing a companion piece with a series of public service announcements discussing tips on helping a swimmer in trouble, swimmer's cramps and sun-care safety, airing in May and June.
      "We have certified lifeguards at the park, so we have trained personnel always on hand to make sure the people are able to swim and doing what they need to do, but in your home pool or even in the neighborhood pool, you may not have a lifeguard," Wright said. "The kids and the parents are on their own to make sure they do the right thing water-safety wise, and these vehicles can help them with that."
      According to the YMCA of Southern Nevada, 60 to 90 percent of all drownings of children younger than 5 occur in residential swimming pools, half of them in the children's home pools.
      The number of backyard swimming pools in the United States has increased to more than 6.5 million, and the child drowning rate has increased linearly with the number of residential pools in use.
      Joyce Woodhouse, director of the Clark County School District Partnership Program, said the paper was distributed to kindergartners through fourth-graders to take home and review with parents.
      "Hopefully, parents and their students will sit down and go through it so they have an opportunity to No. 1, spend some time together, but even more importantly that parents talk with their children about water safety, pool safety, the things that are going to be hitting them hard this summer," Woodhouse said.
      Swimming lessons are offered by the following organizations: Clark County Department of Parks and Recreation, 455-8200; city of Las Vegas Parks and Leisure Activities, 229-6309; city of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department, 565-2123; city of North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Department, 633-1600; YMCA of Southern Nevada, 877-9622; and Nellis Air Force Base (military only), 652-8967.
      "Wet 'n Wise" suggests the following rules for safe swimming:
      n Always swim with a buddy.
      n Swim where there's a lifeguard.
      n Know how deep the water is. Watch out for drop-offs.
      n Before jumping or diving in, check the depth. Always look before you leap.
      n Don't get too sure of yourself. Are you certain you can swim back to shore?
      n Cool off before jumping into cold water, because it may cause cramps.
      n If you get swimmer's cramp, try to relax and float. Work the cramp out. Push in the center of the muscle and work toward its end.
      n If you are cold, get out of the water.
      n Learn drown-proofing -- an easy way to swim for a long time.
      n Never pretend you are drowning or need help.
      n Get out of the water during any electrical storm.
      n Wear a life vest for boating and skiing.
      n Know how to make a simple reaching rescue.
      n If there is an emergency, don't panic. Use common sense.