Tuesday, October 26, 2021 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM EDT
Swimming and aquatic activities are enjoyable ways for individuals to engage in physical activity and provide a way to stay cool during heat events. However, the risk of drowning remains a public health concern: drowning is a leading cause of death for children, and approximately 3,960 fatal drownings occur every year in the United States. To support local health departments in better understanding their role in preventing unintentional drownings, this Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) Network Webinar will share the latest national data and trends and will highlight a successful drowning prevention program in Broward County, Florida.
During this webinar, Tessa Clemens, PhD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will highlight a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report outlining racial and ethnic disparities in drowning death rates among people less than 30 years of age that have persisted in the US during 1999-2019. Dr. Clemens will also provide an overview of the CDC’s current and upcoming work in drowning prevention.
Senior Health Educator Ashley Armour will present an overview of the Florida Department of Health in Broward County Drowning Prevention Program’s unique mission and goals as well as services offered to meet those goals; as well as highlighting the importance of education our next generation of water safety ambassadors and swimmers through the Students Preventing Unintentional Drowning Club that was created and is advised by the Broward County Drowning Prevention Program staff within the Broward County School System.
For any questions about the webinar, please email [email protected].
Speaker Information
Tessa Clemens, PhD is a Health Scientist focused on drowning prevention in the Division of Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prior to this role, Dr. Clemens led drowning data collection projects in sub-Saharan Africa with the CDC Foundation. She has a PhD in injury epidemiology from York University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.
Ashley Armour is a Senior Health Educator in the Drowning Prevention Program within Community Health at the Florida Department of Health in Broward County, Florida. Prior to her role within the Department of Health, Ashley served our country as a United States Airman in support of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. During her service, she found her drive for serving through public and preventative health and obtained degrees in Health Sciences.
