Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Andy Skoogman, Hennepin County Sheriff' Office, 612-919-5918
Roy Magnuson, Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, 651-341-9614
Alison Petri, Abbey's Hope, 952-303-5421
Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, Abbey's Hope, and More to Host "Splash into Summer" Water Safety Event
May 16, 2022 (Minneapolis) – To promote water safety and the usage of U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices while swimming, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office have partnered with the Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation and other public safety organizations for a water safety event called “Splash into Summer.” During the event, the organizations will distribute up to 1,000 brand-new free lifejackets to children and adults. Splash into Summer will be held on Saturday, May 21st at 11 am at Hidden Falls Regional Park in St. Paul.
Splash into Summer attendees can also explore Hennepin County and Ramsey County water patrol boats and learn about water safety from organizations like the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Hennepin EMS, St. Paul Parks and Recreation, and more.
What: Lifejacket giveaway with Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Ramsey County Sheriff, Abbey’s Hope, and other public safety partners.
When: Saturday, May 21st, 11 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Hidden Falls Regional Park, 1313 Hidden Falls Drive, St. Paul, MN
Why: To promote the usage of U.S. Coast Guard-approved floatation devices while swimming. Participating organizations: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation, Ramsey County Sheriff Foundation, Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation, Minneapolis Fire Department, St. Paul Fire Department, Hennepin EMS, MN Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S., Coast Guard, Minneapolis Park Police, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, St. Paul Parks and Recreation
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Abbey’s Hope held their first joint lifejacket giveaway events last summer, which were overwhelmingly successful. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Abbey’s Hope plan to give away 2,000 lifejackets by the end of summer 2022, thanks to a generous financial contribution from the Hennepin Sheriff Foundation.
“Based on the turnout of last year’s lifejacket giveaways, it was obvious that that this program should continue and expand to incorporate other partners,” said Sheriff David P. Hutchinson. “Encouraging children to wear Coast Guard-approved lifejackets while swimming, especially in open water, is such an easy way to prevent a fun day from turning tragic. We hope that by encouraging safe water behavior before the swimming season starts in earnest that we can reduce the drowning incidents that are unfortunately so common during Minnesota’s warmer months.”
“We are very pleased to work with all these wonderful organizations towards our shared goal of promoting water safety,” said Katey Taylor, Founder & President of Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation. “Our organizations are dedicated to educating parents and caregivers on ways to be safe in natural water settings. We cannot say this too much: the best way to prevent a water-related tragedy is to wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard approved life jacket every time you are near, on, or in the water.”
About Abbey’s Hope: Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation is a Minnesota nonprofit organization named after Abbey Taylor, the 6-year-old from Edina, Minnesota who died in 2008 because of injuries sustained by an improperly maintained pool drain cover. The Foundation’s goals are to promote awareness and education of child safety issues, including the dangers of pool entrapment, evisceration and drowning and the need for physical inspections of pool equipment. Abbey’s Hope works with the pool and spa industry to improve the design of its products, packaging and warning labels, and development of product safety standards related to such products. Abbey’s Hope partners with other organizations and programs that educate about the prevention of entrapment and traditional forms of drowning. Learn more at abbeyshope.org/.
– HCSO–
Look for more news on
the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http://www.hennepinsheriff.org.
|
