Water Safety Commercial of the Year - A form of drowning prevention

[Tukz Taaca]

4:45pm, 5:17pm, 5:50pm. Today, while watching the 2010 USA Swimming National Championships on NBC. These were the times of the Cullen Jones/USA Swimming/Conoco Phillips commercial talking about water safety. In the commercial Cullen, comes out saying "at the age of 5 he almost drowned". Then he proceeds to talk about water safety and the Make-a-splash program. As I was researching, I came across an article talking about ConocoPhillips renewing their commitment to USA Swimming for another 10 years. Do you know that they were a partner since 1973? And now they have become a title sponsor. Then I came across another article talking about the, Thanks Mom commercial from Johnson and Johnson. And it goes like this,

-- Cullen Jones, Swimming

From a little boy in his bathtub to an Olympic swimmer, Cullen Jones was always his mom's "water baby," and his mom was always his "No. 1 cheerleader." He is the first African-American to hold or share a world record (4x100 meter freestyle relay) in swimming. At the end of his races, Cullen's mom is always cheering the loudest, and for that he would like to say, "Thanks, Mom."

This type of media attention because of the success of swimming in the 2008 Summer Olympics hones in on two things: Water Safety/Sport and Support. We see that with the support of family, you can live your dreams with the opportunity that is given to you. So, with all the hoopla of pools shutting down and lifeguards NOT on duty due to financial constrainting budgets and families sacrificing extracurricular activities just to make ends meet because they have to find a job or work more. We find yet again hope out there in the form of company/corporate support. As aquatics folks we need to push commericals like these to mainstream TV. We don't we see something like this before major sporting events or children's shows or during sweeps week. We know the statistics. We watch more TV in the U.S. than any other country. Why not fill it with positive messages like these two? Wouldn't it make a difference for people who are not apt to get into the water and swim or make it a reminder about water safety?. Especially, if the environment does not allow them. Again, to see the Aquatics International July article about Racial Divide Persists in Swimming coupled with the 6 teens drowning. Brings the article to reality. TV is a powerful medium and if used correctly can save lives. Somewhere some person sees that Cullen Jones commercial and is affected by it so much that they want to swim. That's the power of images.

[Rebecca Wear Robinson]

Excellent comment. We need to get people talking about water safety in the same breath that they talk about having fun in the water, feeling empowered. Water is a part of our lives every day and yet we don't teach our children how to be safe. Hats off to Cullen Jones and to the companies that support and help spread his message - that swimming can be fun, cool and safe!

[Mary Ann Downing]

Thanks for the message... Moms and Swimming...they go together! I grew up with a non swimmer Mom, and 2 Grandmothers that never even owned a bathing suit! I'm glad that the cycle was broken in my family, thanks to low cost swim lessons at the Y and from the American Red Cross...I swim, my daughters swim, and their future kids will swim. Let's get MOMS into the water with their kids, for safety, exercise and fun!