Public Affairs Office

Media & Public Information Branch

Water soothes us. Its serene, sparkling surface invites us in to enjoy a dip, especially on hot summer days. But its allure can be dangerously deceptive. Calm water can hide strong currents, hidden debris, sudden drop-offs into the deep, and extremely cold temperatures. Such dangers take many lives each year. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, drowning ranks as the number two killer of its most vulnerable victims -- children.

With more than 20 lakes and reservoirs open to recreation, the Department of Water Resources created a Water Safety Program to raise awareness of how you and your family can stay water safe. The Department's concern is to minimize the number of accidents and drownings along the SWP. The program includes:

SWP safety training and materials for use by the Department's field divisions in their outreach efforts with visitors and communities along the State Water Project, such as: SWP Water Safety Brochure Water Safety Materials "Come Back Alive!" Aqueduct Safety Video (available in English and Spanish) Aquatic Adventure Camps help teach water safety to children and youth-especially ethnic minorities and those who would most benefit from positive youth development. The Department of Water Resources partners with communities to create and run these camps. A "how-to" manual is available here. Water safety presentations for schools, service clubs, ethnic groups, and church groups, featuring our water safety mascots, Albert and Einstein. The three Department of Water Resources Visitors Centers offer free, off-site water safety presentations to surrounding communities within a 50-mile radius. For more information call: Lake Oroville-(530) 538-2219; Romero Outlook (San Luis Reservoir)-(209) 827-5353; Vista Del Lago (Pyramid Lake)-(661) 294-0219.

Contact Us

Saunthy Nicolson-Singh is the primary contact for DWR water safety materials. She can be reached at:

Telephone: (916) 653-5114
FAX: (916) 653-4684
E-Mail: snicolso@water.ca.gov

California Department of Water Resources
Public Affairs Office
1416 - 9th Street, Room 150
Sacramento, CA 95814

Additional Water Safety Information

http://dbw.ca.gov
California Department of Boating and Waterways site contains boating safety and education, boating laws, and more

http://www.uscgboating.org/
The official site of the U.S. Coast Guard for boating safety. Learn how to prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities while boating. Lear safety tips, laws and regulations, etc.

http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org/
Pick up tips on safe boating and safety awareness, including testimonials about always wearing your LIFE jacket.

http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html
This Red Cross water safety site contains a variety of safety tips while doing specific aquatic activities such as ocean safety, safety while jet skiing, reservoirs and lakes safety, etc.

http://www.sannet.gov/lifeguards/safety/bchsafe.shtml
Lifeguards who service the City of San Diego provide a list of water safety tips.

http://watersafety.usace.army.mil/
This site will provide you with the opportunity to view current water safety materials available through the Corps program, as well as offer tips on programming, help you find a local point of contact and offer some useful downloadable information

http://www.safeusa.org/water/water.htm
Safe USA provides tips for parents concerning paying close attention to their children while near water.

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/424.html
This web site offers parents water safety information for their infants.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/watersafetyrecreational.html
MedLine Plus, a health-related web site, offers tips for healthy swimming and water safety while engaging in various water sports and situations.

http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/drown.htm
The National Safety Council's online library says drowning claims the lives of over 4,000 people every year. Although all age groups are represented, children 0-4 have the highest death rate due to drowning. The site offers many water safety tips.

http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/links/water.htm
Environmental Health and Safety's online Water Safety offers links to articles on water safety.

http://www.nfpa.org/riskwatch/topwater.html
Risk Watch: Make Time for Safety's web site offers information for kids, parents, and teachers on water safety and other safety issues.

http://www.safekids.org/
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. The web site offers a variety of safety tips including water safety.

http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/water_safety.html
This section of KidsHealth for Parents is on staying safe while in the water and provides tips and facts on drowning.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drown.htm
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control's web site contains fact sheets on drowning statistics, risk groups (males and children 1-14), risk factors (buckets, toilets, bathtubs, etc.), and references, plus links to National Safe Boating Week and Healthy and Safe Swimming tips.

http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/summer/watersafety.htm
A web site geared to girls presenting water safety tips, plus other resources and topics to encourage girls to participate in various educational fields and support resources.

http://botw.org/top/Recreation/Boating/Safety/
Best of the Web's page on boating safety on the Internet.