Project SAFE: A brief water safety and drowning prevention program for preschool children

Kelly S Frindell, The University of Texas School of Public Health

Abstract

The overall purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of Project SAFE, a school-based drowning prevention program, in enhancing water safety knowledge and swimming ability among low-income Hispanic and African-American preschool-aged children (n=118). As part of the study, a Preschool Water Safety Knowledge Questionnaire was created and validated to assess knowledge of safe water practices. Results indicated a positive change in children’s water safety knowledge and swimming skills after the intervention. A parent group was added to the intervention and evaluated to obtain information about parental perceptions of children’s drowning risk. Information gathered from both quantitative and qualitative methods illuminated parental concerns, beliefs, and ideas for improving risk awareness. This study contributes to a limited body of knowledge of best practices for drowning prevention programs for preschool children.

Subject Area

Public health|Individual & family studies

Recommended Citation

Frindell, Kelly S, "Project SAFE: A brief water safety and drowning prevention program for preschool children" (2016). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI10131755.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI10131755

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