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Oregon City proclaims May Water Safety Month; parks staff report expanded swim lessons and lifeguard training
Summary
The commission proclaimed May 2025 as Water Safety Month. Melissa Sebastian, the city’s Aquatic and Recreation Manager, told commissioners the pool offered more swim lessons than before, registered over 1,000 for summer lessons, increased lifeguard training and waived certification fees to recruit staff.
The Oregon City Commission proclaimed May 2025 as Water Safety Month on Wednesday and heard a staff report on local aquatic-safety efforts.
Melissa Sebastian, aquatic and recreation manager, said the city’s swim-lesson program has expanded: more than 3,000 children participated in lessons over the past year, summer registration topped 1,000 and the city increased evening lesson slots to meet demand. Sebastian said the facility’s instructors taught “hundreds of hours of potentially life-saving skills” and that formal lessons can reduce drowning risk significantly.
“The prevention doesn’t stop there,” Sebastian told the commission. She described program changes including waiving lifeguard-certification fees to reduce barriers for new staff, increasing in-service training hours for lifeguards, and supporting head lifeguards to attain instructor certifications so the city can certify lifeguards locally.
Sebastian also emphasized that many fatal drownings occur in homes, bathtubs and backyard pools, and urged families to use formal lessons, supervision and resources from organizations such as the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and the Association of Aquatic Professionals. Commissioners thanked Sebastian and commissioners noted the pool’s role in public health and safety and said they expect funding discussions in future budget cycles.
