Vamos a Nadar (Let's Go Swimming)

"Vamos a Nadar" is a swimming safety program for families. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children under 14 years in age in the United States. From 2000-2003, there were two drowning deaths and 16 hospitalizations among children ages 14 and under in Sonoma County. Latino families are at increased risk for swimming-related accidents.

"Vamos a Nadar" is taught in Spanish. During the free, three-hour program, children receive a swim lesson and their parents receive water-safety instruction from trained lifeguards. At the end of the session, parents receive coupons for discounted swim instruction classes around Sonoma and Mendicino counties.

To promote water safety in the Latino community.

The water safety day, "Vamos a Nadar" has reached approximately 150 children and 300 parents annually since its inception in 2003. In 2010, "Vamos a Nadar" sessions were held at six different locations in Sonoma and Medocino counties between April and July. The success and widespread acceptance of Vamos a Nadar inspired the program, "Vamos a ser salvavidas" (Become a lifeguard), which provides scholarships and lifeguard training for bilingual youth in Sonoma County.