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Fri 06 07 2013

Last update 06:58:18 AM GMT

Welcome to our online Water Safety Magazine.

Reflecting on the many activities I was priviledged to experience in the past from participating in comepetitive swimming, water polo, triathlons, lifeguarding at pools, beaches, lakes, teaching swimming lessons, taking on leadership roles within national aquatic organizations, managing aquatic facilities, to interacting with many aquatic professionals on different levels, has made me realized that I am truly thankful. Thankful for having an opportunity to learn, for meeting amazing people along the way, and for gaining an appreciation for the world of aquatics from many different points of views.

Emerging from this appreciation is the concept on creating awaresness, that eventhough participating in aquatic activities can be very rewarding and fun, it could also result in unwanted and unfortunate tragedies. We need to be aware, and learn more about the possibile dangers associated with being in and around different aquatic environments in order to be safer. Therefore, I have devoted a big part of my professional aquatic career teaching about water safety and advocating for drowning prevention.

In 2010, when I read the Consumer Product Safety Commision's Pool and Spa Submersion: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities 2010 Report it really left me in a bit of a shock. Here are some of the highlights:

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the reported fatalities were children younger than 5 years of age.

Children between the ages of one and two years old (12 to 35 months) represented 53 percent (53%) of the 2005 – 2007 reported fatalities for children younger than 15.

Eighty-four percent (84%) of fatalities of children less than 5 years of age occurred in residential locations .

The report further provides more detail information and data about these injuries and fatalities. After studying this report I could not help asking to myself - why are these percentage numbers high, still to this day? Well that's only in my opinion that I think they are high and would be great to see those numbers reduced significantly. It's only natural that as an aquatic professional and water safety educator, my levels of concerns were just raised. There are many organizations that for years (and they continue to do so) have worked hard advocating for drowning prevention. But I think maybe it's time for not only agencies and/or organizations, but for EVERYONE to be involved with this cause. Water safety should be everyone's business, and we all must take part to continue the efforts of creating awareness, learning and engaging in good/safe practices, and help reduce those drowning percentages for children. Therefore, in an effort to contribute with this cause on my part, and with the support of friends and other aquatic professionals, I have created this magazine to gather resources, educate, inform, and collaborate to help our communities to be safer in and around the water.

Our Mission

Water Safety Magazine focuses on drowning prevention, and being safe in and around water. It serves the worldwide community in general to cover information about water safety. The mission is to educate, inform, have fun, and save lives, by producing an unique, and high-quality magazine to further educate and create awareness for the general public to be involved in water safety practices in order to contribute to reduce drowning around the world and help save lives.

In launching this magazine, I want to bring stories, interviews, and articles to capture water safety as it relates to all aquatic activities in all aquatic environments, not just swimming pools. I want to welcome you, and invite you to join us on this drowning prevention cause, visit our magazine regularly, tell a friend, get involved, send us feedback, submit articles, share your knowledge, or share with us who is making a difference in your local communities and around the world.

Sincerely,

Tomas Leclerc, M.S. Founder, Water Safety Magazine