Swim for Free and Learn About Water Safety

Ker-splash! That’s the sound of kids having fun on April Pools Day, a cooperative effort between the Santee Fire Department and the City of Santee Aquatics Center and Cameron Family YMCA.

The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 28, is intended to raise awareness about water safety and measures that parents can take to prevent accidental drownings.

The Aquatics Center is allowing kids to swim for free and participate in games, crafts and educational activities focusing on water safety.

Members of the Santee Fire Department will bring training mannequins to demonstrate proper CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) techniques and will stage a water slide accident and mock rescue. They’ll also demonstrate the correct fitting for a life jacket.

“There were two drownings East County last summer and we’d like to reduce that number to zero,” said Santee Fire Captain Brad Peterson, who brought April Pools Day to the region about seven years ago.

“While many cities have regulations requiring child-proof fencing around private swimming pools, there are older homes in East County where people still don’t have fences and gates,” Peterson said.

In Santee, April Pools Day is being held simultaneously with the YMCA’s nationwide Healthy Kids Day, an event aimed at encouraging kids to stay active during their summer break from school.

The YMCA plans to hold a fun/walk run, and other activities intended to instill the message that physically active kids stay healthier and do better in academics.

The aquatics center is located at the eastern end of Town Center Community Park at 10123 Riverwalk Drive.The phone number is (619) 449-9622.