April Pools Day Planning and Promotion

Overview

April Pools Day is an annual event whereby families and others may go to a local pool and get safely prepared for our seasonal water related activities. This webpage contains information and materials to assist facilities in preparing and promoting their own April Pools Day.

Each individual facility designs their own program that best fits their needs, but usually includes water safety demonstrations, water safety skills practice, life jacket education, and a recreational swim.

General Information

When: Mark your calendars! April Pools Day is scheduled for April 18th, 2009. (This is just a suggested date. If this date does not work for your facility, choose another day during April.)

What:

Two hour program promoting water safety and life jacket use. (Participants test their life jackets or use pool life jackets to learn safe sizing and techniques for swimming with a life jacket.)
One hour of water safety instruction and elementary rescues.
One hour free swim. (The water safety and free swims have also been conducted concurrently as a two-hour program.)
Raffle for free life jacket donated by Mustang Survival, free swim lessons donated by pool, and any other door prizes your pool can promote.

Where: Your pool!

First Time Hosting April Pools Day?

Hosting April Pools Day can be a rewarding experience for both your facility and your community.

Please take the time to complete the April Pools Day RSVP Form. Facilities that respond will receive event materials and support
If you have any questions or would like additional information we would be glad to help. Just send the April Pools Day committee an email to acollins@ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

Tips & Suggestions

Promotion:

Distribute flyers through local schools and daycares.
Give a free one-hour swim to classroom with most participants.
Distribute flyers on the last day of your current lesson session.
Distribute flyers on your registration day for spring lessons.
Promote during your Family and Public Swims.
Ask the community centers in your neighborhood and division to promote and distribute flyers.
Have local sponsors contribute door prizes or refreshments.
Write an article for your local newspaper.

Format and Organization:

Have participants do as much "hands on" as possible.
Use skits and videos as well as demonstrations.
For the first hour, set up 3 to 4 stations where you are teaching water safety skills, demonstrating elementary forms of rescue, checking life jackets, testing participants' flotation gear, etc. Create a form to stamp showing participation at each station (sample form enclosed). Give a prize or free swim to those who visit all the stations.
Have a water safety "carnival."
Use canoes and boats.
Set up a table for flyers, safety information, brochures – have someone man this table.
Prepare a box in which people can enter their names for the drawing for a FREE set of swimming lessons.
Promote your swim lesson program, along with all of your other programs!

Materials

April Pools Day Themes (PDF 96 KB)
April Pools Day Themes (PUB 107 KB)
Promotion And Event Planning Suggestions (PDF 97 KB)
Promotional Board Instructions (PDF 262 KB)
April Pools Day Logo (TIF 1 MB)
April Pools Day Penguin v1 (TIF 5 MB)
April Pools Day Penguin v1 (PDF 22KB)
April Pools Day Penguin v1 (DOC 129 KB)
April Pools Day Penguin v2 (JPG 115 KB)
Raffle Ticket Template – Swimming Lessons (PDF 21 KB)
Raffle Ticket Template – Swimming Lessons (DOC 34 KB)
Raffle Ticket Template – Life Jacket (PDF 21 KB)
Raffle Ticket Template – Life Jacket (DOC 34 KB)
April Pools Day History (DOC 61 KB)
April Pools Day Regional Contact List (PDF 124 KB)
Hypothermia Brochure (PDF 103 KB)
Life Jacket Loaner Survey Of Washington State October, 2005 (PDF 27 KB)
Review Of 2005 Newspaper Reports Of Submersions (PDF 40 KB)
Review of 2005 Newspaper Reports Of Submersions (PPT 101 KB)

Popular Stations

Share your most popular water safety activities with other April Pools Day partners. Submit activities to acollins@ci.lynnwood.wa.us