Summer is so close, we can almost feel the hot sun shining ?? and smell the burgers grilling! ?? With warm weather and school out of session for the summer, kiddos are sure to be splish-splashing their way through backyard pools, lakes and beach vacations. It’s crucial that your little ones have the knowledge and skills they need to be safer in and around the water, especially as we head into National Water Safety Month!

Throughout the month of May, we’re celebrating National Water Safety Month by diving into our second year of the Safer Swimmer Pledge! We started the Safer Swimmer Pledge in 2021 to spread awareness about water safety and drowning prevention, as well as to give back to the USA Swimming Foundation. Together, we reached over 400 million people with our water safety message, and the pledge was taken by over 7,600 safer swimmers!

As we launch the Safer Swimmer Pledge for 2022, we’re joined again by support from our Goldfish Ambassadors and Olympic swimmers, Cullen Jones and Ryan Murphy! Alongside being Goldfish Ambassadors, Cullen and Ryan are also USA Swimming Foundation Ambassadors, and Cullen is prepping for the upcoming Make A Splash tour, focused on raising awareness for the importance of learning to swim. These two swimming superstars have shown their commitment to water safety time and time again, and we’re so excited that they are on board for the second year of the Safer Swimmer Pledge!

“With a passion for swimming and water safety, and as a near-childhood drowning victim myself, I’ve made it my life’s mission to help combat the drowning epidemic” ~ Cullen Jones

As a Goldfish Dad to a little one of his own, Cullen knows just how important it is for families to take the pledge and commit to learning to be safer in and around the water. By taking the pledge himself, Cullen is committing to be safe and to help his son, Avyn, be safe as well! He stands proudly behind the efforts of the Safer Swimmer Pledge and is excited to see how many pledges we can get this year!

The excitement extends through Ryan as well – he too has a deeply rooted passion for water safety.

“With the Safer Swimmer Pledge, it’s our hope that more and more families will prioritize water safety and the value of swim lessons to help kids feel comfortable in and around the water, while also giving parents peace of mind at the pool or beach.”  ~ Ryan Murphy

Through his efforts and partnerships, Ryan is a continuous advocate for water safety. In his ‘My Cause‘ segment during the Olympic Trials, he shared that it’s important to him to introduce the sport of swimming to children across the United States. Through our shared interest in ensuring kiddos are safer in and around the water, and the Safer Swimmer Pledge, we’re making waves toward doing just that!

Also joining in to spread the word is the o-fish-al Goldfish pediatrician, Dr. Molly O’Shea!

“Your Safer Summer starts now! It is so important to promote family conversations about water safety, drowning prevention and the value of swim lessons, because they have the ability to reduce the risk of childhood drowning by 88%.” Dr Molly

According to Total Aquatics Programming, May through August accounts for two-thirds of annual childhood drowning incidents, so it is absolutely the time to sign the Safer Swimmer Pledge and get swimming toward a Safer Summer! “Take the pledge, join us in creating a powerful force making big waves in water safety awareness and set your family on the path to a safer summer ahead.”

The Safer Swimmer Pledge helps both parents and kids feel more confident in and around the water. It also creates the opportunity for kids to learn and grow, as they develop their skills and commit to water safety with their parents and peers! Visit our Safer Swimmer Pledge landing page or grab a pledge at your local Goldfish school to sign and join the cause! You’ll be able to help promote water safety and will have access to at-home water safety tools and activities.

As we did last year, our Goldfish team will be joining in on the fun! For each virtual pledge, Goldfish will donate $1 to the USA Swimming Foundation, who will use it to continue their efforts in grant funding programs and learn-to-swim tours that help to provide underserved children with access to swim lessons.

The Golden cherry ?? on top? Each person who takes the pledge will be entered to win FINTASTIC prizes, like Safer Swimmer Prize Packs, free swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School, and the grand prize, an all-expenses-paid Safer Swimmer Golden Family Getaway! This lucky family will be gifted ?? $5,000 ?? to spend time together on their special getaway while they show off their Safer Swimmer skills! Pledge Takers can also earn extra entries by sharing their pledge on social media, using #SaferSwimmerPledge!

In addition to our crew, Speedo USA is again joining the cause to help us make waves, give back and save lives! They’ll be providing each family that takes the Safer Swimmer Pledge with a promo code for 25% off their Speedo USA purchase. The team at Speedo USA will also be donating 10% of each purchase to the USA Swimming Foundation!

After taking the Safer Swimmer Pledge, your kiddos can follow these water safety tips to help them have a Safer Summer:

? Enroll in swim lessons and practice basic moves before returning to the pool

? Swap out floaties and puddle jumpers for U.S. Coast Guard-Approved life jackets

? Wear bright colored swimsuits, avoiding blue ones that may blend in with the water

? Follow all of the rules parents have put in place around the water

? Designate a water guardian, someone that can watch the swimmers at all times

You can also visit your local Goldfish school this month to hang your pledge on their Safer Swimmer Pledge wall, grab your Safer Swimmer Badge and to see what fun things they have planned for May! Select locations will even be hosting special International Water Safety Day events!

Whether you’re planning a family vacation to the beach or lake, or will spend the summer relaxing by the pool in your backyard, now is the time to ensure your kiddos are safer in and around the water. Be sure to visit our Safer Swimmer Pledge landing page to take the pledge, then share it with your friends and family so they can take the pledge, too! Safer Summers Start Now, and they start with YOU!