For the third year in a row the Lake Tapps community is celebrating a Swimsafe summer with no reported drowning in Lake Tapps.

Following a 2012 summer that saw three deaths in Lake Tapps, the surrounding cities, first responders, school districts  and Cascade Water Alliance, owner of the reservoir , came together to take steps to help swimmers and boaters who enjoy recreation on Lake Tapps and other area waterways stay safe in a campaign called Swimsafe.  Their efforts have paid off – there were no deaths reported during the 2013, 2014 and now 2015 summer seasons!

And another success: the Swimsafe coalition continues to grow.  This year the Washington State Parks Department, YMCA-Sumner, and Sound Ocean Systems joined the City of Bonney Lake, Pierce County, East Pierce Fire and Rescue, Bonney Lake Police Department, Sumner School District, Dieringer School District, Aquatic Center and the Cascade Water Alliance on drowning prevention.  The coalition  continues to build on the collaborative success of the past three years, working with the community in numerous ways:

• Worked with Sound Ocean Systems to develop a water temperature buoy prototype that will communicate the real-time water temperature (2-3 feet below the surface) to shore-based displays at both of public parks on Lake Tapps.  The displays are intended to create awareness of the effects of cold water BEFORE swimmers enter the water.
• Continued the Lake Tapps Incident Locator Sign project with nearly 150 signs purchased to date by waterfront homeowners. The program ensures emergency responders can get to those in trouble on the lake quickly.
• Placed three new buoys around Church Lake and re-decaled several older buoys to improve visibility.
• Delivered the Swimsafe message through water safety assemblies in 19 elementary and middle schools in both the Sumner and Dieringer Schools Districts, and this year added schools in White River and Carbonado School Districts, reaching over 7000 students!  Assemblies have already been scheduled for 2016.
• Facilitated the custom fitting and sales of 100 life jackets during the school assemblies.
• Delivered classroom-based water safety lessons to nearly 1,700 students, specifically addressing risks associated with glacial-fed waters and boat-related carbon monoxide poisoning, in all middle and high schools within in East Pierce Fire and Rescue’s jurisdiction.
• Continued to maintain life jacket loaner kiosks at North Tapps Park and Allan Yorke Park.
• Distributed thousands of Swimsafe rubber bracelets to youth and adults as a reminder to stay safe in open waters.
• Teamed up with members of Bonney Lake High School’s Media Club to develop a short water safety message.
• Partnered with the media to help spread drowning prevention messages through articles in local papers and segments on the radio, King 5, NW Cable News, Pierce County Television and Comcast On Demand networks.
• Brought the Swimsafe message to the community at events such as Operation Drywater, Bonney Lake Days, and various elementary school carnivals.

“Swimsafe – and the community collaboration it represents – came about as a result of tragedy, but the program has become a success story we’re all immensely proud of.  Swimsafe is making a real difference in our community,” said City of Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson.

“Seeing no water related deaths for three straight summers means something is working,” said Bud Backer, Chief, East Pierce Fire and Rescue. “But this must be an ongoing campaign for all of us.”