Congressional Hispanic Caucus Joins National Water Safety Foundation to Highlight Drowning Prevention
WASHINGTON, DC– The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) joined with The ZAC Foundation – a national water safety advocacy and education foundation – to increase awareness of drowning prevention and water safety for America’s most vulnerable children through a special reading of a Spanish language water safety book and video. The video was released in advance of Labor Day – statistically one of the highest drowning weeks of the swimming season. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, most child drowning deaths happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the risk of drowning is highest in minority populations with the fatal drowning rate almost three times that of Caucasian children. The CHC came together to read the book in Spanish and help engage at-risk children to help them become water safety advocates for their families and communities. CHC members participating included Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Rep. Pete Gallego (D-TX), and Rep. Joe Garcia (D-FL).
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyOEtR7GvLM&feature=youtu.be
The ZAC Foundation co-founders, Karen and Brian Cohn wrote the water safety book in memory of their 6-year-old son Zachary, who drowned after his arm became trapped by the suction of their backyard pool drain. Recently, they released the Spanish language version of their children’s book, El Oso Polar Que No Podia, Ni Queria Nadar orThe Polar Bear Who Couldn’t, Wouldn’t Swim.
"The CHC is proud to have participated in such an important water safety and drowning prevention project. We must do all that we can to ensure that our children are kept safe in and around water," said CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa.
As seen on CNN, Fox News and over 50 network affiliates across the country, the lessons in the El Oso Polar Que No Podia, Ni Queria Nadar have reached more than 3,000 children through the Foundation’s signature water safety program called ZAC Camps in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. ZAC Camps teach children valuable water-safety skills through swimming instruction, classroom lessons, and hands-on activities with First Responders.
El Oso Polar Que No Podia, Ni Queria Nadar follows the journey of a young polar bear named Zeke who is afraid of the water and refuses to swim. He leaves his home in search of other animals that do not swim, and ends up finding that he can enjoy the water if he follows the ABC and Ds of water safety, not only learning valuable water safety lessons but also overcoming his fear of the water.
“We wrote this book to teach children and their families simple lessons like the ABC and Ds of water safety that could hopefully save a life one day,” said Karen Cohn. “We are so grateful to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for helping highlight water safety and drowning prevention. These efforts will help us reach many more people to share these important safety tips.”
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.