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Resident urges water-safety vigilance; offers free ‘water watcher’ badges and local resources
Summary
A resident representing Valley Pool Together urged residents to adopt ‘water watcher’ supervision practices and shared free water-watcher badges, Red Cross water-competency guidance and local outreach plans ahead of summer recreation season.
Snoqualmie — During public comment at the May 12 Snoqualmie City Council meeting, a North Bend resident speaking for Valley Pool Together urged families to prioritize water safety ahead of summer and outlined a local “water watcher” program.
Katelyn (last name not given) told the council that drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death for Washington children ages 1 to 17 and described the local program’s materials and outreach. “Drowning is silent,” she said. Katelyn said free “water watcher on duty” badges will be available at The Village Project in North Bend and at Cascade Enrichment; the badges designate a single responsible adult to actively supervise children around water and include a short list of duties printed on the back.
She summarized five Red Cross tasks the organization uses to define water competency: jump into water over one’s head; return to the surface and float or tread water for one minute; turn and find the exit; swim 25 yards to the exit without stopping; and exit from water without a ladder. Citing Red Cross data, Katelyn said 80% of American adults report they can swim but only 46% can perform those five basic skills.
Katelyn said Valley Pool Together will also run an ad at the North Bend Theater to raise awareness about water competency and urged the Snoqualmie Valley community to use the program’s free badges and materials to improve supervision and preparedness.
No council action was required; the item was presented as public comment and informational outreach only.
