Rotary recognized for anti-drowning efforts
Joshua Collingsworth drowned in a pool at his family’s home in 2008 and that led to his parents to become advocates for child water safety by creating a children’s book they called “Josh the Baby Otter.”
Rotary Club International ultimately picked up the project nationwide as Josh the Otter. Rotary Club of Cape Coral has helped to spread the educational aspects of the book into local schools at the kindergarten and first grade level.
For their efforts last year, the Cape club was awarded the 2016 international Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation Rotary Water Safety Advocacy Award. Cape is one of 13 in the nation to be recognized for its life-saving Rotary Josh the Otter project. More than 300 Rotary clubs have participated and spread the dangers of water to more than 120,000 children in the U.S., Canada and Jamaica.
“It is a great commendation for our club,” said Rotary President Jim Perry. “It’s just one of the great things our Rotarians do for our community.”
Drowning is the second leading cause of death for kids age 1-14. Josh was 2-1/2 years old when he died.
It is the first time the Cape club has received this award.
“We presented Rotary Josh the Otter to each grade separately for about a half-hour,” said Perry. “We give them a book and a CD for them to take home for their parents to help reinforce what they learned about the dangers of the water.”
The program covers general water safety methods, swimming with a buddy, never go around water without an adult. Both the book and the education sessions are presented in a way that makes learning fun assisted by an otter costumed mascot.
“If you don’t make it fun the kids won’t pay attention,” said Perry.
For more information visit www.joshtheotter.org