HU April 'Pools' Day Touts Water Safety

The Hampton University Department of Health Physical Education and Recreation (HYPR) is hosting “April Pools Day” to encourage water safety among youth ages 5 to 14. The April 17 event is free, open to the public and will take place at the university’s Olympic-size swimming pool in Holland Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is an outreach initiative of USA Swimming, the governing body of competitive swimming, to encourage pool activity and teach water safety. Unique Aquatics, a USA swim team, as well as the Hampton Roads Red Cross Chapter are also sponsors of the event. Virginia Marine Police will provide an officer to answer questions on boat and life jacket safety, as well as a police-boat trailer for viewing behind Holland Hall. HU lifeguards, swimmers and coaches from Unique Aquatics, as well as HU student organizations will staff the event.

HU Aquatics Director Jodi Jensen said water safety instruction is purposeful for adults and children. “It’s important to host an event such as this to provide an opportunity for children to come to a safe aquatic environment where they can learn about safe practices, and recreate in the water,” she said.“We are targeting the parents for water safety education by providing presentations to them while their kids are in the water.”

Jensen is encouraging parents to be part of the event as well, particularly parents of younger participants. According to the Center for Disease Control, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children between the ages of 1 to 14.

For more information about April Pools Day at HU contact Jensen at 757.727.5725 or joetta.jensen@hamptonu.edu.