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Mayor proclaims May 2025 Water Safety Month; Swim for Elise organizers outline outreach and scholarships
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Summary
The council presented a proclamation recognizing May 2025 as Water Safety Month and heard from Laurie/Elise Sarami of the Swim for Elise Foundation, which has educated tens of thousands of children and provides scholarships for lifeguard training. Sarami requested community support for outreach and described a new "pre‑EAP" training card.
Mayor Sean McCaskill and the council issued a proclamation on May 6 naming May 2025 as Water Safety Month in Southlake and recognized the Swim for Elise Foundation for its drowning‑prevention work.
Laurie (Lori) Sarami, founder of the Swim for Elise Foundation, described the organization’s outreach and education programs. Sarami said the foundation has provided free water‑safety education to more than 37,000 children in Southlake and neighboring communities since 2017 and has secured permission from Carroll ISD to reach roughly 2,300 elementary students. She described a scholarship program that has helped more than 200 recipients with lifeguard certification, swim camp or college assistance and said the program has distributed about $134,000 in scholarships and support to date. Sarami also described a “pre‑EAP” (pre‑emergency action plan) card meant to teach swimmers, coaches and aquatics staff to recognize early signs of a drowning event and respond more quickly to reduce the time to rescue.
At the council’s request she described “active capable water watchers,” stressing that a capable watcher should be able to reach a child quickly, be free from distraction and ideally be trained in CPR. Sarami also emphasized removing toys from pools during parties and hiring lifeguards for larger gatherings.
Mayor McCaskill read a proclamation in which the city “recognizes the vital role that swimming and aquatic‑related activities play in promoting physical and mental well‑being,” and “honors the legacy of Elise Sarami” by supporting the foundation’s work and the Run for Elise events. The proclamation urges residents to become more water aware and support local drowning‑prevention efforts.
Why it matters: Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for young children; city recognition increases visibility for prevention programs and connects families to local resources.
What’s next: The foundation’s Run for Elise event and associated outreach activities are scheduled; staff and the foundation will continue coordination on community messaging and event logistics.
