Over 375 attend Paragon Pools' 10th Anniversary Float Like A Duck Water Safety Event

LAS VEGAS - June 3, 2013 - PRLog -- The 10th Annual Float Like A Duck™, a major public awareness campaign created by Paragon Pools,  http://www.ParagonPoolslv.com , with an emphasis on water safety saw over 375 attend the yearly event held on Saturday, May 25, 2013 from 1-4 pm at the Heinrich YMCA Water Sports Park, 4141Meadows Lane in Las Vegas, NV. Duckie, the official water safety mascot greeted family members- kids, parents and grandparents who joined him in celebrating the 10th anniversary.

Educating the public on the importance of safety while celebrating the joys of water sports, the annual event focuses on ENFORCING the ABC&D’s of water safety, with a BIG emphasis on A-adult supervision.  

Water safety advocate and president of Paragon Pools, Joseph M. Vassallo, CBP states, “I feel it is everyone’s responsibility to learn and enforce proper water safety practices. Adults should not become complacent when family members are participating in water sports or when living near any water environment... be it a pool, spa, fountain, beach or lake.”

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Public Education & Information Officer Tim Szymanski presented Vassallo and his son Joseph A. Vassallo, CBP with a ceremonial flag that was flown over the Nation’s Capital to recognize the 10th Annual Float Like A Duck water safety event.  Szymanski made the presentation on behalf of Senator Harry Reid who was unable to attend the event.

Szymanski remarks, “Accidental drowning is one of the leading causes of death of children under the age of 14 in Southern Nevada.  Learning how to float gives a child the chance to call for help, and stay out of harm’s way until help arrives to get them out of the water.  Float Like a Duck is an opportunity for children to learn how to float properly.  Programs like this helps to minimize the number of potential drownings here in Southern Nevada and we congratulate the success of the program here for the past ten years.”

Duckie and Vassallo are delighted that the campaign has become such a successful program, with thousands being exposed to floating and other lifesaving skills.  “The YMCA has been a great partner over the years in providing a perfect venue for this event.”

The three-hour, free event featured exhibits, hands-on activities, learn-to-float classes, open swimming in the award-winning YMCA water park and appearances by local news personalities Ted Pretty, and Heidi Hayes and LV Metro’s McGruff .  Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Station #5 had a fire truck on display.  Every child who attended received a copy of the 2nd edition of Duckie’s water safety coloring book.

Graphic Designer Danny Romero, who created the original Float Like A Duck logo and coloring book updated both to reflect the 10 year anniversary.  The popular and colorful Float Like A Duck logo now has a collection of merchandise available in 3 different designs at http://www.cafepress.com/floatlikeaduckstore .  Proceeds from sales go to support the water safety program.

Duckie receives assistance from the following organizations in promoting water safety: the YMCA, KVVU-Fox-5, Las Vegas Metro, Mascot McGruff, Las Vegas Metro Volunteer Police, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, MAC Landscaping, Danny Romero Designs, KTNV-TV13, the APSP, UMC, the City of Las Vegas, the SNCDPC, Pictographics and the SNHD.  For more information follow Duckie at http://www.facebook.com/Floatlikeaduck .