Suggested American Red Cross Resources and Support for 2010 Collaborative Summer Library Program

The American Red Cross is pleased to participate in the 2010 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) and will encourage its 679 chapters across the country to contact their local public libraries and identify ways to collaborate.  CSLP member libraries are encouraged to reach out to their local Red Cross chapter to request their collaboration.

Contact your local chapter to explore the opportunities available in your community. To find the local Red Cross chapter serving each library, go to redcross.org and then enter the library's zip code. We encourage the Collaborative Summer Library Program members to link to the aquatics page on American Red Cross website which provides extensive water safety information, tips and other resources.

The following is a listing of activities and resources available from the Red Cross and are recommended for CSLP 2010 programs --Make a Splash - READ (for children); Make Waves at your Library (for teens); and Water Your Mind - Read (for adults).

Water Safety Presentations CSLP members can work with local Red Cross chapter to offer one or more of the Red Cross water safety presentations.  Local swimming instructors, lifeguards, lifeguard managers and swim team members would be great candidates to lead a presentation. Anyone interested in offering water safety presentations can work with the chapter to orient to the material and lead one or more of the presentations. Examples of prepared presentations that are appropriate for most age groups include:

• General Water Safety (30 minutes)
• Home Pool Safety (30 minutes)
• Sun Safety (30 minutes)
• Rip Current Safety (30 minutes)
• Water Safety Today (2 hours)

Offer a "Storytime" with Raffy Learns to Swim or Waddles in the Deep these American Red Cross children's stories can be read to young children at the library as part of the CSLP program (see more on Raffy and Waddles below)

American Red Cross books and educational resource kits are low cost items that would work well into CSLP; or could be provided as part of a suggested reading list. All titles are available through the local chapter or online at www.shopstaywell.com or by calling toll-free at 1-800-667-2968.

Children Resources:

Raffy Learns to Swim ($1.99 retail); Waddles in the Deep ($1.99 retail) These children's classics feature fun characters in an engaging story for families to read together. Both help children prepare for swim lessons and enable parents and caregivers to set expectations for lessons and work with their children to practice skills outside of class.

Longfellow's WHALE Tales (Water Habits Are Learned Early) is an awarding-winning program that teaches school-age children about water safety and drowning prevention. Exciting classroom-based activities cover 11 topics, including lessons on sun safety, water safety around the home and water safety in different environments, such as waterparks, lakes and rivers.

Longfellow's WHALE Tales K-6 Educational Packet ($17.95 retail).  Lessons are supported by 11 colorful posters and a CD-ROM of teaching tools, including topic outlines, fact sheets, activity sheets and certificates.

DVD (25 minutes) that supports Longfellow's WHALE Tales ($39.95 retail)

Longfellow WHALE Tales Stickers ($9.95 retail) Participant stickers reinforce key safety messages and encourage discussion between children and parents.  Each pack contains 25 stickers for each of the 11 lessons.

Teen and adult water safety books:

Water Safety Handbook ($4.50 retail) This handbook provides water safety tips, information about the risk of drowning and head, neck and back injuries and includes general health tips for outdoor activities in and around water environments. It includes information on diving safety, lifejackets as well as how to help others including the steps for emergency action plans are in the handbook.

Swimming and Water Safety ($25.95 retail) Provides information on lifetime fitness and training, water safety, recognition and response to common aquatic incidents and detailed information on basic and advanced aquatic skills. It offers the most current biomechanics concepts in regard to stroke descriptions, in consultation with USA Swimming; updated diving techniques and learning progressions developed in consultation with USA Diving.

Lifeguarding ($34.99 retail)  This manual includes the content needed to complete any of the four stand-alone Lifeguarding courses, plus optional training in Bloodborne Pathogens, Administering Emergency Oxygen and more. This text is also a great reference tool for working lifeguards once training is compete.

Lifeguard Management ($26.99 retail) Designed to teach aquatic managers and lifeguard supervisors how to effectively manage lifeguards and help to keep patrons, lifeguards and aquatic facilities safe. The text includes management topics and additional records and reports, as well as nearly 100 in-service training outlines on topics such as assertiveness, communication, fitness and emergency scenarios.

Water Safety Tips can be downloaded from RedCross.org or can be printed and given after a water safety story has been read, distributed as part of a CSLP promotion, or used as the basis for a short presentation. Tips are available on the following topics:

Would You Know What to Do?
Emergencies can happen anywhere, anytime. In an aquatic emergency, every second counts. Survival depends on quick rescue and immediate care.
Download the PDF...

It Only Takes a Moment
Anyone watching children who are in, on or around water must understand that drowning happens quickly and suddenly. Any source of water is a potential drowning hazard, especially for young children and weak swimmers.
Download the PDF...

Is Your Pool Safe?
Home swimming pools offer years of fun and activity for families. They also can be a significant threat to young children-those living in the home or in the surrounding neighborhood.
Download the PDF...

Where Is It Safe to Swim?
Swimming in lakes, rivers and oceans can be safe and fun at a designated swimming area that is protected by lifeguards. However, if these elements are not in place, always assume that any natural body of water is too dangerous for swimming.
Download the PDF...

Your Home Doesn't Come with a Lifeguard
Staying safe around water is more than staying near the lifeguard at the pool. Every year many children drown in residential swimming pools, bath tubs, buckets of water and other containers of water. Anywhere there is water there is risk for drowning. Do not leave a young child unattended near any source of water, not even for a moment.
Download the PDF...

Life Jackets Aren't Just for Boats
But, they only work when they are worn! Young children and weak swimmers should wear life jackets whenever they are in, on or around the water, even at a pool or a waterpark. Put it on at the dock, deck or shore and don't take it off until you are on dry land.
Download the PDF...

Summer Water Safety Guide
A recent Red Cross survey shows that almost half the adults surveyed on water safety say they've had an experience where they nearly drowned. It is important to follow the basics of water safety, maintain constant supervision of children and to get trained. This safety guide also contains a discount coupon for the Red Cross store.
Download the PDF...

Water Safety Tear Sheets promote water safety in a "check-list" style format. The information can be distributed as part of water safety presentations or given to library patrons as part of CSLP to reinforce safety and prevention to individuals who swim in home pools or in natural bodies of water. Two aquatic tear sheets are available in both English and Spanish: Home Pool and Hot Tub Maintenance and Safety (Stock No. 651325) and Swimming Safely in Lakes, Rivers and Streams (Stock No. 651326). To view or to download the water safety tear sheet template and other preparedness information, visit RedCross.org Preparedness Fast Facts page; tear sheets can also be purchased HERE

Learning about water safety is just one way to make families and communities safer.  The Red Cross also offers training in swimming, lifeguarding, first aid, CPR and AED. The retail materials are available at the local Red Cross or they can be ordered from www.shopstaywell.com by calling toll-free at 1-800-667-2968.

To find the local Red Cross chapter serving your library, go redcross.org and enter the library's zip code.  For more information, please contact Gina Gunn at (202) 303-6005 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .