POSTED MAY 17, 2018
(Portland, OR) –
Join us for our FREE water safety event, a family-friendly series of workshops with door prizes during our free swim session at East Portland Community Center. Translation at the event will be available in about a dozen languages besides English!According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the United States’ second-leading cause of accidental death among children, behind only motor vehicle crashes. And about 4,000 people die by drowning in the country each year[1]. But Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is stepping up with a special event to learn more about keeping you and your family safe – both in and around the water.
In honor of National Water Safety Month (May), PP&R’s Aquatics Division is holding a special event at East Portland Community Center on Saturday, May 19, 2pm-4pm. All ages are welcome to take part in fun, educational, games and activities to help foster awareness about water safety, to recognize what drowning looks like (not like in the movies or on TV), and to build skills to use all summer – and all year long. Water safety is a team effort!
What: Learn how to stay safe in and around the water - interpretation will be available into at least seven languages other than English!
Where: East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Avenue, 503-823-3450
When: Saturday, May 19, 2pm-4pm
You and your family can visit safety stations on
- Pool safety
- How to use a life jacket safety and effectively
- Safety in the open water
- Sun safety
Visit all four safety stations for a chance to win a free PP&R swim lesson or life jacket! The first 50 participants will receive door prizes. East Portland Community Center’s open play swim session will be held at the same time as the event, making a swim in the pool an exciting and fun way to cap off the day.
Interpreters will be on site at the special event to speak to Portlanders in Spanish, Arabic, Russian, French, Lingala, Tshiluba, Nyanja, Karen, Somali, Nepali, Vietnamese, and Swahili.
WORK WITH US
Portland Parks & Recreation lifeguards are universally trained and certified to help keep you safe. PP&R hires around 700 staff annually for the busy summer swim season. Interested in joining our team? The Bureau is accepting applications now for lifeguards, swim instructors and water fitness instructors. Positions are open at PP&R swimming pools located throughout the city.
Portland Parks & Recreation values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. PP&R encourages candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities to apply. PP&R encourages candidates who can fluently speak more than one language to apply.
Portland Parks & Recreation Aquatics offers year-round and/or seasonal work, competitive wages, a positive working environment, flexible hours, opportunity for advancement and an employee recognition program.
With five indoor and seven outdoor (during summer) pools throughout the city, PP&R Aquatics staff have the opportunity to provide a service to their community while earning wages between $11.25 - $14.00 per hour.
Training is required as part of the application process for potential employees, and courses for those interested in becoming a PP&R lifeguard or swim instructor are available through Portland Parks & Recreation. Lifeguard and swim instructor training courses are offered year-round. Lifeguard candidates must be strong swimmers 15 years or older, and complete a four-day training. Swim Instructor candidates must have good swimming skills, the ability to work with all ages and complete a four-day training. Both lifeguard and swim instructors must demonstrate a mature attitude and be able to work well with all members of Portland’s community.
For more information regarding training courses and employment opportunities or to request an employment application call Portland Parks & Recreation Aquatics at 503-823-5130.
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