IN HAWAII DROWNING LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER 15.

SECONDSHIGHEST RATE IN THE NATI.

EL DROWNING LAST DECADE HAWAII RESIDENTS.

WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THESE J TR TRAGEDIES ADDRESS WATER SAFETIES CONCERNS ACROSS THE STATE?

PBS HAWAII LIVESTREAM STARTS NOW.

♪ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M LAUREN DAY.

IN HAWAII, DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 15 AND OUR STATE CONSISTENTLY RANKS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION FOR DROWNING FATALITIES.

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY WATER BUT FAMILIARITY DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN SAFETY.

FROM STRONG CURRENTS AND CHANGING CONDITIONS TO GAPS IN EDUCATION AND ACCESS, THE RISKS ARE REAL BUT OFTEN PREVENTABLE.

SO, WHAT IS BEING DONE TO INCREASE WATER SAFETY AND MAKE A SERIOUS IMPACT IN DROWNING PREVENTION?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS REPRESENTATIVE JEANNÉ KAPELA IS THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 5 ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII.

SHE IS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND ARTS AND CO-CHAIRS THE WORKING FAMILIES CAUCUS.

SHE IS THE FIRST WOMAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN TO REPRESENT HER DISTRICT.

JIMMY BARROS IS THE HONOLULU OCEAN SAFETY DEPARTMENT DEPUTY CHIEF.

HE HAS MORE THAN 31 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN LIFEGUARDING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE, TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

HE EARNED A MASTERS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTARTION DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA.

MORGAN BRAILO HAS WORKED WITH THE YMCA SINCE 2017.

SHE IS THE AQUATICS DIRECTOR AT THE WINDWARD Y. SHE IS A LIFEGUARD AND LIFEGUARD INSTRUCTOR AS WELL AS SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTOR AND SWIM LESSON INSTRUCTOR TRAINER.

AMANDA ALLISON IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATOR FOR DROWNING PREVENTION IN THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND INJURY PREVENTION SYSTEMS BRANCH AT THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SHE PREVIOUSLY HELPED TO RE-ESTABLISH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT FOR VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU, MAYBE WE'LL JUST GO AROUND THE TABLE, WHY DO YOU THINK HAWAII'S NUMBERS ARE SO BAD?

IS IT JUST BECAUSE WE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES?

WE HAVE VISITORS?

IS IT THE LACK OF EDUCATION?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS?

>> WELL I THINK THERE IS JUST THE THOUGHT THAT SORT OF LIKE YOU SAID IN THE INTRODUCTION.

IT'S LIKE OF COURSE, PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

AND EVERYBODY IS SHOCKED WHEN THEY FIND OUT THAT NO, THE STATISTICS SHOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

I WOULD SAY, WOULD THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD ASSUMINGS YOU ASSUE IN HAWAII, MUST KNOW HOW TO SWITCH.

BEACHES OUTSIDE YOUR BACK DOOR.

>> RIGHT.

FOR THE VISITORS, THERE IS KIND OF DIFFERENT BENT I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT'S SAFE, RIGHT?

THEY COME TO HAWAII INSTEAD OF GOING TO LIKE WE BELIZ AND SOE EXOTIC PLACES SAFE, REALIZING DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON OCEAN.

DON'T UNDERSTAND AND PERHAPS THEY COME FROM PLACES, WHERE THEY'RE USED TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF WILD WATER, NOT THE OCEAN.

AND SO THEY'RE NOT PREPARED FOR THAT.

>>Lauren: I'M SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE A LOT.

IS IT JUST THE VISITORS THAT ASSUME IT'S SAFE OR ALSO SEEING THIS PROBLEM FOR LOCAL AS?

>> ECHO SAME, CONCEPT WITH THE VISITOR CASE.

NOT USED TO IT.

IT'S SOMETHING NEW TO THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN ON A PLANE, FIRST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS MORE THAN LIKELY SAVED INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SPEND VACATION HERE, SO THEY DIVE IN, NOT ASSESSING THE RISK BEFORE THEY JUMP IN OR ARE UNAWARE OF THE RISKS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE EDUCATION PREARRIVAL FOR THE VISITORS IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

AND THERE ARE SOME ASPECT THAT IS ARE OUT THERE.

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES WAS DOING STUFF COUPLE YEARS AGO I BELIEVE THEY'RE STILL DOING IT, ALASKA NOW, BUT THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE MORE OF THAT BEFORE THEY ARRIVE WHETHER IT'S CONCIERGE OR ANYTHING ELSE.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE'RE ISLAND STATE.

SO AS FAR AS RESIDENTS, STATISTICALLY, WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WATER AT ANY GIVEN TIME DOING A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT THINGS FROM FOILING TO SKIN DIVING TO RECREATIONAL SWIMMING TO SURFING, BODY BOARDING ONE MAN CANOEING.

THAT'S OUR RECREATIONAL OUTLET IN HAWAII FOR THE MOST PART.

SO WITH THAT IS GOING TO COME STATISTICALLY MORE GREATER RATE OF INJURY.

AND MOBILITY AND MORTALITY.

SO THAT'S WE HAVE A BIG REST REE FOR THAT LARGE NUMBER.

WE CAN DO MORE TO FIX IT.

THAT'S I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO.

>>Lauren: FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR YOU, WOULD YOU SAY MOST OF THE RESCUES THAT YOU ARE MEN AND WOMEN DO, ARE THEY FOR VISITORS OR FOR LOCALS?

>> WITHOUT NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE TO SAY VISITORS.

THE RESCUES WOULD BE MORE VISITORS.

RESIDENTS TEND TO BE BIGGER RISK TAKERS LONG FOIL RUNS, DOING RUN U RUN OC1'S TACKLING BIGGER SURF BECAUSE WORKED THEIR WAY UP FROM YOUTH.

I WOULD SAY INJURIES, THE MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS THAT WE'RE DOING, I WOULD GUESS THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, WOULD BE RESIDENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT GREATER RISK.

TAKING A GREATER RISK IN WHAT THETHEY'RE DOING.

BUT THE RESCUES AND PEOPLE GETTING IN TROUBLE, I WOULD GO WITH DEFINITELY THE VISITORS POPULATION OR THINGS THAT WENT WRONG IN THE RESIDENTS POPULATION.

WHERE THERE'S EQUIPMENT ISSUE, OR JUST LITTLE OVER THEIR HEAD.

YEAH, I WOULD SAY VISITORS AND THEN RESIDENTS FOR THE MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS.

>>Lauren: I THINK YOU WOULD ADD AS TO WHY YOU THINK OUR NUMBERS ARE SO BAD HERE IN THE STATE.

>> I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S TWO-FOLD.

WE ARE ISLAND STATE.

SURROUNDED BY WATER.

NOT EVERY SINGLE BEACH CAN HAVE A LIFEGUARD TOWER.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LIFEGUARD TOWER, REALLY DEPENDING ON THAT SWIMMER'S KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DO I IDENTIFY THIS IS A SAFE PLACE TO SWIM?

HOW CAN IDENTIFY MY OWN SWIMMING ABILITY?

GO IF I GET INTO TROUBLE, HOW CAN I SA SAVE MYSELF.

LOOK AT LOCAL POPULATION, IT'S ACCESS.

HOW MANY SWIM LESSON PROVIDERS ARE OUT THERE TARGETING DEMOGRAPHICS NEEDING IT?

LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SEND ALL OF THEIR KIDS TO SWIM LESSONS.

HOW ARE WE REALLY REACHING THOSE DEMOGRAPHICS.

>>Lauren: WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING AS TO, ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THESE NUMBERS?

>> I THINK O FACE VALUE PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED.

BUT IF YOU REALLY TAKE A STEP BACK AND THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS LAUREN JUST TALKED ABOUT.

FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SO BUSY WORKING TWO OR THREE JOBS JUST TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR KIDS HEADS NOT TAKING THE TIME TO GO TO THE BEACH AND TEACH THEM HOW TO SWIM NATIVE HAWAIIAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN COMMUNITIES OR RURAL COMMUNITIES PEOPLE RELY ON THE OCEAN FOR FOOD, O SUSTENANCE, IT'S IN OUR BLOOD TO GO TO THE OCEAN, TO BE IN THAT SENSE OF SPACE AND THAT PLACE.

BUT WHICH DON'T NECESSARILY THINK ABOUT CAN YOU DO ALL OF THE PROPER STANDARDIZED TEXTBOOK THINGS TO SAVE YOURSELF IF YOU ARE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE YOU HAVE ONE DAY AT THE BEACH, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND IT WITH YOUR KEIKI BUT NOT TEACHING THEM HOW TO SWIVMENT TEACHING THEM TO YOU PRESENT AND BE PRESENT WITH THEM.

TAKE A STEP BACK, THINK ABOUT THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE IN OUR STATE.

NUMBERS MAKE A LOT OF ESSENTIAL.

WE THINK VISITOR ISSUE.

BY ALL MEANS YES, VISITOR ISSUE.

BUT ALSO A LOCAL ISSUE DEALING WITH OUR WORKING FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO NOT ONLY CARE THEY NEED, BUT THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO KIDS CAN THRIVE AND ENJOY THE BEACH WITHOUT FEAR OF DROWNING.

>>Lauren: I WILL SAY JUST SPEAKING A A PARENT, SWIM LESSONS AREN'T CHEAP.

>> THEY ARE NOT.

>>Lauren: DOES OFFER SOME GOOD OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.

MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE PRICE THAN OTHER PLACES.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT.

SINCE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC U WE OFFER FINANCIAL AID FOR ALL OF YOU ARE PROGRAMS, SWILL LE SWIMS MEMBERSHIP, CHATTING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOT JUST SEND YOUR KIDS TO SWIM LESSONS PRESIDENTIPRACTICE WITH THEM, IE FOOL, ACCESS TO SAFE FACILITY PRACTICE THOSE SKILLS WITH YOUR KIDS.

MORE OFTEN THEY PRACTICE, MORE RETAIN AND CONNECT HOW DO I ACTUALLY USE THESE SKILLS IN REAL LIFE OUTSIDE OF 30 MINUTES SWIM LESSON.

>>Lauren: MAYBE BREAKOUT SOME OF THOSE LESSONS?

HOW BAD ARE WE TALK ABOUT BEING AMONG THE WORST NATION FOR DROWNING.

>> WE ARE SECOND ONLY TO ALASKA.

SO WE HAVE THE WORST RESIDENTS DROWNING STATISTICS.

>>Lauren: TH TAKING THAT OUT VISITOR.

>> THAT'S TAKING OUT VISITORS.

AND TRIPLE CROWNING IS THE TRIPLE CROWN DROWNINGLEADING CAR CHILDREN, ONE TO I THINK 14 I THINK IT IS.

15.

AND SO IF IS PRETTY MAJOR AND THINK ABOUT, WE HAVE THE OCEAN REPRESENTED HERE AND WE ARE POOLS REPRESENTED HERE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT CHILDREN 0 TO 4, WHERE DROWNING IS HAPPENING, IS IN THE HOUSE.

AND IT'S LIKE IN THE BATHTUB, AND IN THOSE FAMOUS BUCKETS THAT ALL HAVE THE PICTURE OF THE BABY FALLING IN, ALSO ONE THAT SURPRISED ME WAS THE TOILET.

I GUESS AS VERY YOUNG CHILD, I HAD NO INTEREST NO GOING INTO THE TOILET.

GOING INTO THE TOILET.

BUT BUT IT DOES EXIST.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS KIDDY POOLS IN THE HOT SUMMER.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE CHILD TO GO OUT TO THE KIDDY POOL, IT'S LIKE THE PARENTS OLDER BROTHER AND SISTER, AND STUFF, THEY'RE ALL ON DECK.

BUT MAYBE THAT KIDDY POOL DOESN'T GET EMPTIED RIGHT AWAY.

AND THE LITTLE TODDLERS LIKE NOW IS MY CHANCE.

SO THAT IS HAZARD TOO.

AND JUST MAKING PEOPLE AWARE WITH VERY YOUNG CHILDREN THAT'S AN ISSUE.

AND IF YOU'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A INGROUND SWIMMING POOL IN YOUR HOUSE, YOU NEED TO SET UP, IT'S CALLED FIVE LAYERS OF P PROTECTION IN TERMS OF BARRIERS, LOCKS, ALARMS, FERFENCING AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THE TOOLS IF SOMEBODY DOES FALL IN TO PULL THEM OUT.

THAT SHEPHERD'S HOOK AND RING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IF A CHILD IS IN, THEY CAN BE RESCUED THEY QUICKLY.

>>Lauren: ONE OTHER THING I ADD TO, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE HIDDEN RISKS, OR WHERE CHILDREN COULD POTENTIALLY BE DROWNING NOT JUST OCEAN OR POOL, RE RETENTION AND DETENTION POND.

TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE KONA JORDLOWS SO MANY SPACES FILLED WITH WATERED AND NUMEROUS RETENTION AND POND ACROSS NOT MAPPED NOT BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF WE ACTUALLY PASSED SHARK YES, SIR LAW LAST SIGNIFICANCE D SHARKY'S LAW, ALLOWED TO US TO REALLY STEP IN AS A STATE AND ENSURE THAT DEVELOPERS ARE MOR MARKING WHERE THE SPACES SO THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT AT RISK OF DROWNING BECAUSE SPACE THAT COULD BE BONE DRY, FOR THE MAJORITY OF TIME, NEXT DAY, OR MAYBE THAT NIGHT, COULD BE FILLED WITH WATER AND COULD BE MULTIPLE FEET DEEP WOULD NEVER EVEN KNOW.

THAT WAS UNFORTUNATELY THE CASE WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH CHARLOTTE SHARKY, YOUNG WOMAN CHILD, WHO JUMPED IN TO RETENTION, POND THAT THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HAD NO IDEA SPACE EVEN EXISTED.

AND UNFORTUNATELY SHE LOST HER LIFE.

SAVING HER FRIEND.

SO THESE ARE RISKS THAT I THINK STATE IS STARTING TO RECOGNIZES AND I REALLY THINK ADVOCATES INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE PIECES BECAUSE THE KEY I THINK WHEN WE'RE MAKING CHANGES.

>>Lauren: YOU I THINK SHARED ANOTHER STATISTIC WITH OUR TEAM BEFORE THIS ABOUT IT WAS ONLY 2% OF SECOND GRADERS IF I'M GETTING THIS RIGHT, PUMP THE GRAPHIC, ONLY 2% OF SECOND GRADERS CAN SAVE THEMSELVES IN A DROWNING SCENARIO.

THAT BASICALLY MEANS 98% OF OUR SECOND GRADERS IN THE STATE CAN'T SWIM.

>> SOMETHING THAT I ACTUALLY WITNESSED.

WE HAD BLESSING, OPPORTUNITY THROUGH GRANT FROM THE CDC FOUNDATION GOT TO WORK WITH TITLE 1 SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA.

WE HAD KAILUA ELEMENTARY COME AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO JUMP IN THE WATER.

I WAS SO TERRIFIED JUST TO TRUTHFULLY SEE THESE SECOND AND THIRD GRADERS WHERE THEY'RE LIKE I CAN SWIM.

I CAN DO IT.

OKAY, SWIM FROM THE WALL TO ME.

I'M JUST ABOUT 5, 10 YARDS AWAY.

AND THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TTHEY CAN DO IT.

THEIR SKILLS DON'T MATCH.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT.

WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR DIFFERENT AGE DEMOGRAPHICS.

>>Lauren: DOES THAT SCARE YOU?

HEARING THAT?

WHEN YOU GET IN THE OCEAN, IT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER BALLGAME FROM A POOL.

>> IT DOES.

I THINK WHAT EVERYBODY IS ECHOING IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SHE'S BRINGING UP IF THE PARENTS, SO IT'S SOMETHING STANDARDIZED ACROSS THE BOARD, TO ME, ALL TIERS, WHETHER IT'S CONSTRUCTION OR MANMADE OR NATURALLY MADE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THE STANDARDIZATION OF PROGRESSION FROM BIRTH TO ADADULTHOOD COULD STANDARDIZE STAGES IN WHICH EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED AND TAUGHT THESE DIFFERENT FORMS, SO FOR A PARENT MAYBE EARLY BIRTH CLASSES, REMINDING PARENTS ABOUT UNATTENDED CHILDREN IN THE BATHTUB, IN THAT LITTLE ROCKER THING, THEY'RE SAFE.

THEY'RE NOT.

THAT IS THE DAY THAT YOUR CHILD DECIDES THEY CAN ROLL OVER.

UNFORTUNATELY.

SO YOU GO FROM THE PARENTS AND THEN I'M A PRODUCT OF THE YMCA SWIM PROGRAM AT THE OLD CENTRAL Y. LEARN TO SWIM.

AND THEN YOU REACH OUR PROGRAMS FROM CITY & COUNTY, JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAMS WE'RE DOING 7 TO EXCUSE ME, 11 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE.

WHERE IT'S LIKE, OKAY, GONE TO THE SWIM PROGRAMS.

THE UNCLE IS E AUNTIES TAUGHT TM HOW TO SWIM.

BASIC RESCUE TECHNIQUES, BASIC CPR WHICH GOES ACROSS THE BOARD.

NOT ONLY IN THE SWIMMING ISSUE, BUT GRANDMA AND GRANDPA FOODLAND OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND SO AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE OLDER A HE THEN THE CYCLE CONTINUES WHERE NOW, THEY'RE IN THIS RISK TAKING CATEGORY FROM 17 TO 30.

AND THEY'RE TAKING THESE GREATER RISKS AND IN THE OCEAN.

AS THEY GET OLDER.

AND THEN THEY HIT PARENTAL AGE AND THEN THE CYCLE CAN CONTINUE.

IF WE COULD STANDARDIZE THAT TYPE OF TEACHING THROUGH ALL THESE DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE, I THINK WE WOULD REALLY, REALLY MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND WE WANT TO STOP HAVING THE MADS AND THOSE BECAUSE THOSE TYPE OF PLATFORMS AND THOSE GROUPS, THEY ALL RESULT FROM TRAGEDY.

THEY'RE OUR STRONGEST GROUPS.

MOST VOCAL GROUPS.

THEY'RE THE GROUPS THAT DO SOME OF THE BEST WORK.

BUT WE DON'T NEED THEM TO KEEP BEING POPULATED THROUGH THOSE TRAGEDIES.

SO IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE STANDARDIZING DON'T HAVE THESE GROUPS POPPING UP, AFTER TRAGEDY, THEN THAT IS WHEN WE KNOW THAT THE EFFICACY IS THERE.

>>Lauren: RIGHT.

AND I MEAN THAT WAS FIRST THING THAT STARTLED ME WHEN I WAS FIRST LOOKING AT TAKING THIS JOB, WAS READING THE STATISTICS.

THE SECOND THING THAT STARTLED ME, DIDN'T SORT OF DAWNED ON ME THAT WE HAVE GOTTENNER TO WHERE WE ARE ON THE BACKS OF THESE FAMILIES TRAGEDIES.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IF EVERYBODY JUST TOOK A MINUTE, STOPPED AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THEY WOULD REALIZE THAT YEAH, IT COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.

IT COULD HAPPEN TO THEIR FAMILY.

I MEAN, I GREW UP GOING TO THE BEACH ALONE DURING SUMMER.

AND IF MY FRIENDS CAME AND JOINED ME, GREAT.

IF THEY DIDN'T, I WAS AT THE BEACH ALL DAY.

AND MY MOM WAS FINE WITH THAT.

WE WERE KIND OF WATER FAMILY.

BUT NOW, I REALIZE, I CONTINUED THAT.

IN MY ADULT LIFE IN HAWAII.

I WANT TO GO TO THE BEACH.

I'M GOING TO GO TO THE BEACH.

AND DOING THIS JOB AND ESPECIALLY GETTING OLDER, I REALIZE THAT IS NOT REALLY SAFE AND NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.

THE WHETHER IT'S MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, THE FIRST RESPONDERS, LIFEGUARDS, AND SO ON BECAUSE IT HAS AN IMPACT ON EVERYBODY.

WHEN YOU DROWN.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TRAGEDY NO LONGER THE DRIVER OF THIS.

>>Lauren: WE HAVE COUPLE QUESTIONS FROM OUR VIEWERS.

READ OFF THREE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY ABOUT THE SAME QUESTION.

AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT UP TO WHOEVER FEELS LIKE THEY COULD ANSWER THEM.

ERIC IN KAILUA ASKING, WHY ARE SWIM LESSON IS NOT MANDATORY IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM?

SEEMS LIKE A NO-BRAINER FOR AN ISLAND STATE.

CHERYL KAILUA SAME TOPIC.

SAYS, IN THE 80s, KIDS IN SIXTH GRADE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WERE PROVIDED WITH SWIM LESSONS.

SEEMS LIKE ON OBVIOUS SOLUTION.

PE PROGRAM TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT.

THEN AGAIN, SAME TOPIC.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S KNOWN WE'RE READING HER QUESTION.

SARAH HAU'ULA WHEN WAS YOUNG USED TO WALK FROM SCHOOL NOELANI ELEMENTARY TO THE MANOA POOL TO LEARN.

WHY IS THERE IN MORE OF THAT?

>> I THINK IT WAS MONEY UNFORTUNATELY.

YOU KNOW, TO THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT'S SCHOOL ALREADY NEEDS TO FUND TO MEET KIND OF THEIR BAI ASSIST OF EDUCATION BASIS HE BAYBASIS EDUCATION NEE.

ONE OF THE FINGERS GOT CUT.

A LOT OF KIDS NEED TRAFFIC TRANSPORTATION.

SWIMSUIT US.

PAY STAFF GOING TO BE THERE.

LIFEGUARDS BE THERE.

FORLTD DEPARTMENT OF HE HAD FORT EDUCATION ONE EASIEST WAYS TO REALLOCATE THEIR FUNDS.

DON'T GET ME WRONG I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BACK.

THAT WOULD BE PHENOMENAL.

>>Lauren: WELL, PLEASE GO AHEAD.

>>Testifer: I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WELL.

LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

PUSHING BOTH DEPARTMENT AND BOARD OF EDUCATION REALLY TO GOING BACK TO THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDS.

HAVING STRONG STANDARDS AROUND WHAT PINPOINTS STUDENTS NEED AND MILESTONES STUDENTS NEED TO BE MEETING CERTAIN AGES.

SECOND GRADE IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR STUDENTS TO BE LEARNING SOME OF THE BASICS AROUND SWIM LESSEN SOS AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE WATER.

IT DOES COME DOWN DO MONEY.

I THINK TRANSPORTATION IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE.

ALSO SOLUTIONS.

STATE REALLY NEEDS TO BE CREATIVE WHAT THE SOLUTIONS LOOK LIKEMENT SCAMS THAT ARE NOT, NEAR A POOL OR POOL IS BROKEN OR PART MISSING.

THERE ARE SCHOOL IS NOT NEAR A POOL.

ER FROM THE 70s CAN'T FIND THEPART.

WHATEVER ISSUE IS.

NEW STATIONS POPPING UP.

SPACES CALM KAI AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS PULLING UP THESE, I DON'T KNOW I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT BLOW-UP POOL.

SPECIFIC POOLS THAT CAN BE TRANSPORTED.

I THINK IF WE CAN FIND THE COURAGE TO REALLY PUSH THE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE SOME OF THE STEPS, IN BEING CREATIVE AND BEING PROBLEM-SOLVERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVING CHILDREN'S LIVES.

ENSURING THERE ARE LESSONS AND EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL OR INCOME LEVEL YOU HAVE ACCESS TO LIVESAVING EDUCATION.

>>Lauren: NEXT STEEPS STEPS.

BUILDING HEARD IN THE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISH STATE DEPARTMENT OF WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE STATUS OF THAT BILL AND REASON BEHIND INTRODUCING IT.

>> I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE REASON BEHIND IN INTRODUCING IT.

INCREDIBLE IMPORTANT LIVESAVING OPPORTUNITY FOR STATE TO SUPPORT RESIDENTS.

ALSO FACING 3 BILLION AFTER THE KONA JO LOWS 4 BILLION SHORTFALL COMES TO OUR BUDGET.

ACTIVE NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL HAPPENING AND I WILL SAY WHEN THINGS WENT THROUGH THE SENATE, NOT A LOT THAT CAME OUT.

OF THOSE HEARINGS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF WATER SAFETY BILLS INCLUDING THINGS AROUND SPEAR FISHING AND PROPER LABELING FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS.

WE TALK ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF HOW CULTURE IS CONNECT TO OCEAN.

WE HAD LEGISLATION AROUND SPEAR FISHING SAFETY REQUIREMENTS AND JUST PROPER LABELING SO FAMILIES HAD A NOT UNDERSTAND OR KNOW DANGEROUS SPEAR FISHING OR HOW TO PROPERLY USE THEIR EQUIPMENT AND DON'T HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT CAN TEACH THEM.

IT'S A LABEL.

SIMPLE THINGS.

A LOT OF THEM DIED.

AND I WOULD SAY A LOT OF US, KONA JO LOWS REALLY TOOK OUR STATE FOR A MAJOR TURN.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SLIB SESSION.

AND LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

NO, EXCUSE FOR NOT PUSHING WATER SAFETY LEGISLATION.

I WILL SAY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS SUCH A BENEFIT WE HAVE AMAZING RESOS, THAT RESOLUTIONS.

THAT ESSENTIALLY CALL ON DIFFERENT BODIES OR DEPARTMENTS TO ACT ON A CERTAIN THING.

SO WE HAVE THREE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OR TWO THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.

ONE ADOPTED HAWAII WATER SAFETY PLAN.

WHICH IS REALLY CAME OUT OF HAWAII WATER SAFETY COALITION.

COALITION OF INCREDIBLE ADVOCATES AT THIS TABLE BUT L BEE REBEE REACHED PARENT AND LES IN OCEAN SAFETY.

BEE RELIEVED PARENTS.

ADOPT AND WILL NOW FOCUS ON, PUSHING LEGISLATION FORWARD.

THAT CAME OUT OF THIS WONDERFUL PLAN.

BEE RBEE RILIFEGUARDS KNOWN AS T RESPONDERS.

IT'S WILD TO ME THAT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING WE HAD TO STANDARDIZE THROUGH A RESOLUTION.

CONSIDERING EVERYTHING THAT YOU FOLKS DO, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT IS BEHIND.

WE ARE NOW TAKING STEPS TO MOVE OURSELVES FORWARD TO BETTER PROTECT THE STATE.

>>Lauren: I THINK THIS IS GOOD SEGUE.

RAMONA IS ASKING, I BELIEVE QUESTION WILL PROBABLY GO TO AMANDA AND JIMMY.

ARE THE SCARY STATISTICS BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN BEACH DEATHS AND INJURIES OREL PAHOPAHOAPOO POOLS OR ICE CREAMS?

OR STREAMS?GREATEST RISK.

>> GREAT QUESTION AND, AND QUESTION, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO ANSWER AND THE CITY HAS PUT INTO OUR BUDGET NEW DIGITAL PLATFORM AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR MAYOR MAYORS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO START THAT DIGITAL PLATFORM.

IN DOING SO, BE ABLE TO REALLY BREAK DOWN THE STATISTICS MOVING FORWARD ON ANYTHING FROM SINGLE FACE MASKS TO DIFFERENT SNORKLE AND MASK.

QUESTIONS THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR SO LONG, AND WE'VE BEEN ON WRITTEN PLATTE PLM AND FOREVER.

NOW, WE'RE GOING AWAY FROM IT.

SO THAT WE CAN HAVE UP TO THE MINUTE STATS AND PRODUCE THESE TO PEOPLE LIKE VIEWERS WHEN THEY'RE ASKING.

REALLY EXCITED.

STARTED LAUNCHING IT.

BUT IT'S A LOT OF THE STATISTICS THAT SHE'S QUO QUOTIG HAWAII WATER SAFETY PLAN, GET A CHANCE TO READ IT.

PHENOMENAL, STATISTICALLY RELEVANT TO WHAT WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.

IT'S TAKING ALL THE AGGREGATE DATA FROM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

IT WOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF BATHTUB DROWNING, BUCKET DROWNINGS, ALL OF THOSE OTHER DROWNINGS.

WE PROVIDE TO THE CITY WE PROVIDE THROUGH THE CITY, WE PROVIDE OUR STATISTICS FOR LOCATIONS AND DROWNING.

LIKE SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER, WE DON'T HAVE LIFEGUARD TOWERS EVERYWHERE.

WISH WE DID.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT EVERYWHERE.

WE HAVE IT SPECIFIC HOT S SPOTS.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CHINA WALLS WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE AGENCIES CONVERGING AND THAT'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH US.

CHINA WALLS RIGHT NOW.

BUT YOU'RE GETTING REPORTING THROUGH FIRE, EMS, OCEAN SAFETY, AND THAT IS WHERE THE DIGITAL PLATFORM AND BEING ABLE TO SEGREGATE AND BREAK UP ALL OF THIS STATUS SO WE CAN EFFECTIVELY GEAR OUR PREVENTION AND OUR RESPONSE EFEFFORTS TOWARDS LONG ANSWER.

BUNDLED UP TO GO.

>>Lauren: I THINK THAT THAT PLATFORM IS REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE WATER PLAN, YOU WILL REALIZE AND IN FACT IF YOU GO THROUGH ANY STATE'S THINK 11 STATE THAT IS HAVE WATER PLANS, STATES THAT HAVE WATER PLANSEST PHO OF TH MOST TE DATA IS FATALITIES.

MOST OF THE DROWNING INCIDENTS ARE NOT FATALITIES.

THEY ARE LESSER.

BUT UNTIL THIS DIGITAL SYSTEM, THERE HAS BEEN NO UNIFORM WAY TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STIMIES PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION.

HOW DO WE GET THAT.

WHEN PEOPLE CALL US FOR DATA, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY DON'T YOU HAVE THIS DATA?

AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, THERE'S A LONG ANSWER TO THAT.

>> IT'S ANOTHER MEDICAL EXAMINER DATA AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, A PERSON DOESN'T PASS RIGHT AWAY, AND SO THE DATA IS PROVISIONAL FOR LIKE A YEAR.

AND THEN IF WE WERE TO QUOTE AGE, LOCATION, OF THE INCIDENT, AND SO ON, THE NEIGHBORS WOULD KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND YOU CAN'T DATA HAS TO BE DEIDENTIFIED.

YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS FROM DATA.

SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PROCESS ABOUT WHY THE DATA WE HAVE IS IN THE STATE IT IS, I AM VERY HOPEFUL FOR THIS NEW SYSTEM.

I THINK IT WILL REALLY HELP US.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER STATES ARE DOING, BUT I THINK OTHER PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT HAWAII AND BE, LET'S DO THAT.

IN OUR PLACE TOO.

>>Lauren: MONICA AINA HAINA LIFEGUARD FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME HANAUMA BAY ONE OF THE SCARIEST ASSIGNMENTS TO GET.

EVERYONE FACE DOWN NOT WATER.

HOW DO LIFEGUARDS HANDLE STRESS LIKE HANAUMA BAY TO CHINA WALLS?

REALLY ACCURATE STATEMENT.

HANAUMA BAY IS EVERYBODY FACE DOWN.

AND NOT MOVING.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT.

THEY WORK THROUGH.

WE HAVE OUR, 309 WATER SAFETY OFFICERS RIGHT NOW O IT'S A STRONG FAMILY.

AND THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

AND THEY'RE LOVING WHAT THEY DO AND TO BE OUT THERE AND TO MAKE DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT IS WHAT CONTINUES TO MOVE THEM THROUGH.

THERE ARE BAD SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY WITH THE TODDLERS OR ANY FATALITY FOR THAT MATTER.

RESIDENT OR VISITOR.

AND IT AFFECTS THEM.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM AND THEY GET BETTER.

LONGER ALWAYS SAYS, BEST RESCUE THAT YOU EVER MADE IS ONE THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO.

CHIEF LONGER ALWAYS SAYS.

THAT'S ALWAYS TRUE PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN DO, PHENOMENAL JOB OF PREVENTION.

IF THEY GOT TO JUDGMENT ON A ATV AND EXPWRUM P ON A. A TV.

APPLY DOWN TO D KEIKI MAKE SURE FAMILY OF FOUR DOESN'T WALK IN THE WATER THEY WILL DO IT.

THEY DO IT EVERY DAY.

THAT IS THE OUR SIDE OF CLEAN DATA AND PREVENTION IS YOU CAN'T PUT A NUMBER ON PREVENTION.

ONLY PUT A NUMBER ON THE DARK SIDE OF IT.

SO BUT OUR MEN AND WOMEN ARE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT DATA.

THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GOES HOME SAFE AND THAT REMEMBER HALF THE PEOPLE IN THE WATER ARE FRIENDS, FAMILY, THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEY WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES WHICH THEY LIVE IN AND HAVE GROWN UP IN A LOT OF THEM.

SO THEY PUT THAT EXTRA EFFORT IN EVERY DAY AND TO NOT MAKE THAT RESCUE IF IT'S JUST A CONVERSATION, IT'S WORTH IT.

THEY DO IT EVERY DAY.

>>Lauren: ON THE TOPIC OF YOUR LIFEGUARD AND OCEAN SAFETY DEPARTMENT.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.

THIS VIEWER DONOVAN IS I SAG LIFEGUARDS ARE SAFER YOURS LITERALLY.

SAVIORS AND ONLY ONES THAT CAN HELP IN THIS SITUATION.

SO I THINK WE WOULD ALL ECHO THAT STATEMENT.

BOB FROM WAIKIKI ASKING, I DEAL WITH VISITORS GET IN TROUBLE.

WHILE SNORKELING IN HAWAII.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO LISTEN CHANCE OF THIS HAPPENING?

>> DONE IT LISTEN LESSEN THE CHANCE OF HAPPENING?

>> COUPLE OF SNORKEL AIL SNORKEL PREVENTION GROUPS WORKING WITH DIFFERENT VENDORS MUCH HANAUMA BAY DOES REALLY GOOD JOB WITH OUR VENDORS DO A GOOD ORIENTATION.

I THINK ECHOES YOUR SPEAR FISHING.

KIND OF YOUR ANSWER IS THAT ANSWER.

>> STRONGER LABELING REQUIREMENTS.

AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF PREVENTION.

HELPING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS OF PUTTING SOMETHING ON YOUR FACE WHETHER IT'S A FULL FACE MASK OR SPEAR FISHING.

WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE TOPIC OF EDUCATION AND SWIM LESSONS.

WE HAVE A BUT OF QUESTIONS ON THAT.

BUNCH QUESTIONS.

BEFORE WE GET IT QUESTIONS COMMENTS FROM ISR OAHU SAID, THEY SAY, WE NEED MORE WATER SAFETY EDUCATION FOR PARENTS AND KEIKI, ALSO SURVIVAL BASED SLESS EVERYONES SO ESSENTIAL ALL LAYERS FAIL.

KEIKI HAVE THEIR ON LINE OF DEFENSE.

HOW EARLY DO YOU THINK PARENTS SHOULD START CONSIDERING SWIM LESSONS AN WHERE DO YOU EVEN START?

>> I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD CONSIDER IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ISR DOING AMAZING WORK.

WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT THEY'RE REACHING OUT TOWARDS.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SCARIEST VIDEOS TO WATCHEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEY JUST THROW THE BOBBY ANY THERE.

PHENOMENAL THROW THE BABY IN THERE.

PHENOMENAL TO SEE THESE, SIX MONTHS, 7 MONTHS ONE-YEAR-OLD KIDS ARE ABLE TO FALL IN THE POOL, IN THEIR POOLS COMPLETELY CLOTHED.

JEANS JACKET ROLE OVERREN TO THEIR BEING BAY AND CRY FOR HELP.

ON THEIR BACK.

ISR DOING AMAZING WORK.

AGREE WITH THAT SENTIMENT SHOULD SHALL A A BE A LOT MORE EDUCATION OUT THERE WITH PARENTS BIG PUSHES WE DO IN MAY WATER SAFETY MONTH, WE DO A PHONES DOWN EYES UP.

CAMPAIGN.

THE BIGGEST THING WE'RE SEEING AT OUR POOLS AND AT THE BEACHES IS FAMILIES REALLY QUICK TO OKAY, YOU CAN GO SWIM NOW.

YOU'RE AT LIFE JACKET OR WHERE YOU CAN TOUCH.

WATER SHALLOW.

AND THEN PARENTS IMMEDIATELY JUST START SCROLLING ON OUR ON PHONEOR READING KINDLE OR BO EMPHASIZING BECAUSE THERE'S LIFE GUARD AROUND DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU CAN TAKE YOUR EYES O OFF YOUR KID.

BE IN ARM'S RESEARCHER AND WATCHING YOUR KIDS SWIM TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAKING SAFE DECISIONS, ALSO GETTING INTO TROUBLE YOU CAN GRAB THEM.

>>Lauren: WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO START WITH THAT THROWING, NOT YOU THROWING THEM IN, BUT THOSE CLASSES THROW IN THE LITTLE KIDS?

OR IS THERE ANOTHER ROUTE WHERE MAYBE YOU TAKE THE YIEMTION CHRISTIAN CENTER YIEMTA CLASSES WHAT I DO.

RECOMMEND FOR BROCK LITTLE TO DO.

>> BEST SUITS YOUR FAMILY.

FAMILIES CONSTANTLY ON THE WATER, POOLS IN THEIR BACKYARDS, FAMILIES LIVING ON THE CANALS WE SEE IN KAILUA, THOSE CLASSES 100% CAN SAVE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE.

NOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE LONGEVITY OF CAN YOUR CHILD BUILD THE ENDURANCE, SWIM FAIR DNC AS SWEED WATERED, FAR DISTANCE THE LONGER TERM SWIM LESSON PROGRAM WHAT YOU'RE FAMILY WOULD BE LOOKING FOR R >>Lauren: BILLY ASKING ON THE TOPIC OF SWIM LESSONS HOW DO PARENTS FIND AFFORDABLE SWIM CELES LESSONS KIDS ARE WORTH EVERY PEN WHICH SPEND BRELATESES WHAT CAN HE AFFORD.

ER TALKING ABOUT ACCESS.

FOR FAMILIES AND SWIM LESSEN SOS BEING EXP EXPENSIVE.

THERE ARE REALITIES.

>> LOCAL NONPROFITS WEST SIDE.

HONOLULU WORK LESSONS ARE EITHER LOW COST OR ZERO COST.

I THINK ALSO, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS SIMILAR TO THE Y, OFFER FINANCIAL AID UP TO OF 6 TO 100% DEPENDING WHAT YOUR FAMILY KNEE.

UP TO 60 TO 60100%.

DEPENDING WHAT YOUR FAMILY NEEDS.

GOOGLE SEARCH.

EACH COMMUNITY HAS DIFFERENT PROVIDERS.

DON'T KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE.

NORTH SHORE, AUNTY AND UNCLE UNCLETEACHING SWIM LESSONS IN TR BACKYARD.

WHAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO GIVE THEM A PHONE CALL, WHAT PAYMENTS DO YOU OFFER AND HOW CAN YOU WORK WITH FAMILIES?

>> NOT JUST MONEY.

I THINK YOU TA TOUCHED ON THIS AND IT'S WHEN DO YOU HAVE TIME TO GET YOUR CHILD TO THE SWIM LESSON, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A REALLY YOUNG CHILD.

YOU KNOW THEY'RE NOT NOT GOING TO GO WITH THEIR SCHOOL.

CAN'T PUT THEM ON A BUS.

SEND THEM WITH OLDER BROTHER AND AS SISTER.

SO YOU KNOW PARENTS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT TIME TO DEDICATE TO EITHER TAKE THE CHILD THEMSELVES OR FIND SOMEBODY THEY CAN RELY ON.

TO DO SO.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

AND YOU FIND ONE OF THE SOCIAL DETERMINANT AS OF HEALTH, DO PEOPLE HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THE MEANS TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

DO THEY HAVE THE TIME?

ANOTHER ISSUE.

>>Lauren: THIS VIEWER MICHAEL FROM HILO, NOT A QUESTION, BUT I THINK FOLKS MAY BE JUST WEIGH IN ON HIS COMMENT.

EVEN IF WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TEACH ALL OUR SCHOOL KIDS TO SWIM, WE CAN SURE AFFORD TO TEACH AWARENESS OF OCEAN ISSUES, DANGERS, WHAT TO LOOK FOR, ET CETERA.

WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE STREET.

TEACH THEM TO HE ROA SPECK THE OCEAN.

NOT RESPECT THE OCEANMENT NOT CROSS FAST MAF MOANALUA FREEWAYING ST-FAST MOVING STREAMS.

NOT ISWMP P IN THE POOL.

WITHOUT KNOWING RISK.

NOT JUMP IN THE POOL.

ANY TYPES YOU WOULD PROVIDE PARRPARENTS OR VIEWERS WILL THIS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN WHEN IT COMES TO POOL SAFETY AND OCEANS.

>> >> ONE OF THE BIG ONE AS WE TEACH TO OUR D OUR KIDS REACH OR THROW DON'T GO.

ISN'T JUST SPECIFIC TO A POOL ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY CAN USE IT AT THE BEACH AS WELL.

IN A STREAM.

USE THAT THINK WHERE.

REALLY EMPHASIZING TO THEM, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE STRUGGLING, YOU SHOULDN'T JUMP IN AFTER THEM WESM WANT TO EITHER REACH SOMETHING OUT TO THEM, THAT'S LONG AND CAN REACH THEM, WANT TO THROW SOMETHING THAT'S FLOATY.

OUT TO THEM.

TO THEN HOPE THEM STAY AFLOAT.

>>Lauren: REACH OR THROW, DON'T GO.

ASK YOU TO SAY IT SLOWLY.

THROWING SOMETHING TO SOMEONE.

WHO NEEDS HELP.

OKAY.

WOULD YOU ADD ANNOYING, OURS IS THE IF IN DOUBT, GHOST NET DON'T GOOUT.

FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE OR DON'T HAVE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF AREA, TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT YOUR ENTRY AND YOUR EGRESS AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT STAGES.

OF THE HE EDUCATION COMPONENTS AND HOPEFULLY STANDARDIZED COMPONENTS THAT WE ALL HOPE WILL REACH.

NO OUR PROGRAMS, IN OUR PROGRAMS THAT 11 TO 17, MORE RISKS TAKING DEMOGRAPHIC MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO STOP.

SO OUR INSTR INSTRUCTOR CITY & COUNTY INSTRUCTOR FOR OUR JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM, FOCUS ON THAT THAT RISK ASSESSMENT AND KIDS REALLY GET INTO THE RISK ASSESSMENT.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

IS HAVE THEM JUST, PARENT CAN DO IT.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT'S DANGEROUS TODAY?

I DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP IT IS.

SURF LOOKS BIG.

EL ROCKS OVER HERE.

VERY GOOD.

SIGN OVER THERE.

THAT SAYS, HIGH SURF OR JELLY FISH.

AND THEN GO SEE A LIFEGUARD.

THAT'S ALWAYS THE BEST ONE FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW.

THEY CAN JUST GO TO ONE OF OUR GUYS, OR SWIM AT AN GUARDED BEACH.

NOT BABY SITTERS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE.

BUT THEY'RE THERE FOR THE INFO.

AND CAN START DOING THAT TEACHING KIDS TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE 16 YEARS OLDS WALK UP TO THE TOWER.

LOOKING LIKE TODAY?

SO NO SHAME.

JUST COME UP AND ASK.

OUR GUYS WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

>>Lauren: GOOD ADVISE.

ALWAYS BEEN TOO INTIMIDATED GO UP A LIFEGUARD TOWER AND ASK.

>> THEY'RE HAVE FRIENDLY.

>>Lauren: BUSY THOUGH.

ON THE CLOCK.

WITH THEIR EYES.

LIKE A HAWK.

WE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON FACTORS YOU'VE SEEN DROWNING INCIDENTS?

MAYBE WE CAN START WITH AUTHOR OUGHTTHE A OUR BEA BEACH AND WEN AT POOLS.

>> WEIGH IN FOR POOLS.

>> FOR DROWNINGS ARE I WOULD, GO WITH TRAUMATIC INJURIES.

VERSUS SPEAR FISHING OR NOT NECESSARILY SPEAR FISHING BUT THE MASKS RELATED.

MASK RELATED ISSUES.

YOU CAN GET INTO HUGE DEBATE WHICH HAS NOTHING DO WITH THIS REGARDING FULL FACE MASKS AND, HYPE OBJECTION I, ALL OF THAT.

HIGH EPOXY.

IN GENERAL BE SURPRISED HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN'T USE A REGULAR MASK AND A SNORKEL.

SO THEN YOU HAVE AGAIN, OUR HIGHER RISK TAKING POPULATION.

THAT ARE DIVING DEEP.

SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT.

SO THOSE TYPE OF TRAUMATIC INJURIES WOULD ARE WHAT WE SEE A LOT.

THEN THE LACK OF SWIMMING ABILITY.

AND TAKING TOO GREAT A RISK AND ESSENTIALLY JUST DROWNING.

SO THAT IS TENDS TO BE MORE IN THE VISITOR POPULATION.

BUT IT'S DROWNING VERSUS TRAUMATIC INJURIES, WHICH YOU HAD ALLUDED TO IS NOT NECESSARILY THE RESULT ISN'T THAT DAY.

IT COULD BE A LONG AND UNFORTUNATE PROCESS.

BUT ULTIMATELY, RESULTING IN THE NEGATIVE OUTCOME.

>>Lauren: I THINK TO ADD TO THAT TOO, WHAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBOR ISLANDS ARE SEEING IS JUST HOW MANY BEACHES DON'T HAVE LIFEGUARDS.

ARE NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY HAVE TOWERS THERE.

WE SEE SO MANY NONPROFITS DOING THE GROUND WORK GOING OUT AND PURCHASING LIFEGUARD TUBES TO STATION THEM AT THESE BEACHES.

PUTTING SIGNS UP.

EDUCATING PEOPLE, THIS IS HOW YOU USE IT.

IF YOU SEE SOMEONE THAT STRUGGLING THE WATER, I THINK THAT DEFINITELY ON NEIGHBOR ISLAND OF KAUAI, THEY'VE SEEN DRAMATIC TURN IN THE AMOUNT OF DROWNING DEATHS THAT HAVE BEEN AT SOME OF THEIR UNGUARDED BEACHES.

>> RESCUE TUBE PROGRAM IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

>> GOING STATEWIDE.

>> WE'VE STARTED THAT HERE.

CHINA WALLS ADD SPIN SPITTING KAKACAFES.

ENING VIDEO SOMEBODY THROWING THE SPINNING CAR- CAR- CAVES OUG ONE MAN'S LIFE.

KEEP THEM AFLOAT.

UNTIL OUR GUYS GOT THERE ON THE TAXI AN SKI AND BROUGHT THE.

STRONG SUPPORT OF RESCUE TUBE PROGRAM.

AND COUNCIL'S PUSHED IT AND GOT GREAT BACKING.

I THINK THAT IS GOING MAKI I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO MAKE REALLY B BIG DIFFERENCE IN UNGUARD HEAVILY USE Y ROUTE LYSED AREAS.

>>Lauren: FOR THE LADIES ON THE PANEL.

WEIGH IN OTHER HALF.

TALKING ABOUT BEACH AND OCEAN.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SOME OF THE FACTORS IN DROWNING AT OUR POOLS?

>> LOOK AT MORGAN.

ER WORK AT THE Y. MAYBE CAN YOU WEIGH IN TOO.

>> THANKFULLY I'M VERY BLESSED TO SAY NOT SEEN A DROWNING A AT OUR POOLS TELL MY LIFEGUARD ALL THE TIME, NOT IF, IT'S WHEN.

REALITY IS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC BEING THAT WE SERVE AT THE Y IS HOPEFULLY, LIFEGUARDS ARE DOING 100% EVERYTHING THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

EN SKAING WATER.

PREVENTING AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

SCANNING THE WATER.

BUT R WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE EMERGENCY METAL INSTANCE.

THE HEART ATTACK IN THE WATER.

EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH INSTANCE.

BLOOD SUGAR EPISODE.

ISSUES WITH BLOOD PRESSURE.

ALL OF THOSE, FACTORS WHEN ADD WITH RISK YOU BEING OF SWIMMING THAT IS WHAT RISK OF SWIMMING THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PERSONALLY THEORIZE IS WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR POOLS.

THANKFULLY, BEEN A LOT OF MOVEMENT IN GROUNDWORK IN OUR KIND OF POOL STRUCTURES LIKE, EVERY POOL IS REQUIRED TO HAVE SPECIFIC POOL COVERS.

SO THERE'S NO LONGER THAT RISK OFTEN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER BOTTOM OF POOL AND ENTRAP.

AND SWIMMERS.

RERESIDENTIAL POOLS CERTAIN HEIGHT OF FENCING PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN I REMEMBER BEING TEENAGER IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAD HEARD OF SOME KIDS, WHO WILL HOPPED FENCE OF ABANDON HOUSE AND ONE BOYS ENDED UP DROWNING.

IN THE POOL.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE BARRIERS ARE MR.

IN PLACE.

THEY ARE NECESSARY.

IN PLACE.

THOUGH CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING BUT A BARRIER THAT ISN'T REQUIRED YET.

IN HAWAII.

>> OH, NO.

WHICH OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO CHANGEMENT.

>> YEAH.

WE'LL GET THERE.

>> BEEN TALKING TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CONCRETE THING THAT COULD HELP.

REQUIRING POOL FENCE.

AND EVEN GETTING SWIM LESSONS OR PASSING THAT SWIM TEST.

D.O.E.

SCHOOLS.

HOW DO WE GET TO THAT NEXT STEP?

WEWWHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO AS A STATE TO MAKE BET REMEMBER ACQUIRES?

REQUIREMENTS?

O.

>> I MEAN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT CONSERVATION LIKE THIS WATCHING ANY OF THE PBS INSIGHTS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BUSINESSES AND PIECES OF THINGS THAT ARE MISSING.

BITS AND PIECE.

ADOPTING WATER SAFETY PLAN, I THAT'S REALLY OUR STATE'S BLUEPRINT TO BET PR PROTECT KEII COMMUNITY AND VISITORS.

NOW HAVING A ADOPTED THAT, PASSED TODAY OUT OF STATE LEGISLATURE.

I THINK WE NOW HAVE TO YOU ARE BLUEPRINT AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE KEY PHASE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP PUSH SOME OF THESE MEASURES THROUGH.

WE HAVE FUTURE LEGISLATION THAT IS JUST BEEN WRITTEN HEAR IT IN THIS CONVERSATION.

I THINK ASKING COMMUNITIES SHARE YOUR STORIES.

BE A PART OF THAT LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATION.

WHETHER NOPEFULLY IT'S YOUR SHARING POSITIVE STORIES OR MAYBE, UNFORTUNATELY SHARING TRAGIC STORY.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE RELYING ON THOSE SOLELY SHARE YOUR STORY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND PART OF CHANGE WE NEED TO SEE.

>>Lauren: I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT BEING ISSUE LACK OF MONEY.

TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE A BIG PART OF THAT IS MONEY HASN'T BEEN A TRIBUTED BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF THIS CONVERSATION HAPPENING?

UP UNTIL THIS POINT?

OR UP UNTIL ALL OF THESE STATS HAVE COME OUT?

>> I THINK IN 2025, PLAN WAS FIRST PUBLISHED, I THINK THAT WAS A HUGE STEPPING STONE FOR US AS A STATE.

ALSO FOR THE ADVOCATES TO BE ABLE TO PUT A CLEAR BLUEPRINT FORWARD.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN TOWNS OF OUR STAY, HAVEN'T FACED THESE MAJOR FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WE WILL BE IN A POSITION ONE DAY WHERE WE WILL NOT FACE THESE CRISES AGAIN.

SO I THINK WE ARE PROPOSE PREPARED AND KNOW LEGISLATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND KEEP PUSHING IT FORWARD.

TAKES YEARS SOMETIMES TO PASS SOME OF THESE PIECE WE HAVE REALLY CLEAR OUTLINE WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

AND DO THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE LESS DROWNING.

ONE THING TOO I'LL ADD IS THERE ISN'T FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN THROUGH THE CDC AROUND CREATING POSITIONS THAT WILL LITERALLY TRACK DATA FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PO PACIFIC ISLANDERS AND DROWNING IN SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES WHICH IS HUGE FOR OUR STATE.

WEST SIDE, OAHU, IN KAUAI OR IN RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE MY OWN IN SOUTHERN HALF OF HAWAII ISLAND, WE KNOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS WHO ARE DROWNING.

IT'S NOT AS WE'VE HAD IN CONVERSATION, IT'S NOT JUST VISITOR ISSUE.

LOCAL ISSUE AND WE NEED CLEAR CRYSTAL CLEAR DATA THAT HELPS US OUTLINE WHERE WE NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE MONEY.

AND JUSTIFYING THAT SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

WHETHER IT'S RURAL BEACHES, UNGUARDED OR IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS TO CREATE MORE ACCESS.

OR JUST EDUCATING FAMILIES.

>>Lauren: I WILL SAY THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF ADVOCACY.

IS FOR SO LONG, RELYING ON NAJUMA STATISTICS.

ONE IN TEN NATIONAL STATISTICS.

ONE IN TEN CHILDREN ARE DROWNING, IT'S LIKE, EVERYONE KIND WANTED TO KIND OF TURN A BLIND EYE.

NO, IT'S NOT HAPPENING HAWAII.

IT'S NOT HAPPENING TO OUR RESIDENTS.

FINALLY, WHEN WE GOT OUR STATE'S SPECIFIC STATISTICS, ABLE TO BE LIKE, IT IS, IT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S HAPPENING HERE.

IT'S SCARY.

>>Lauren: WE'RE ONE OF THE WORST.

>> YES.

>>Lauren: I'M KIND BLOWN AWAY BY THIS CONVERSATION.

BECAUSE AT THE TOP OF WHEN WE STARTED TALKING, YOU JUST ASSUME PEOPLE IN HAWAII, GROW UP NEAR THE OCEAN.

THEY MUST BE MORE CONFIDENT.

MUST BE MORE SWIM ADEPT.

>> THE CLEAN DATA IS KEY.

THEN CAN YOU FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS WHERE TH THERE IS PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS, LIFEGUARDS, FENCE PREVENTION, WHATEVER MAY BE, THE DATA THAT YOU'RE USING NOW IS UNFORTUNATELY IT'S FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND INCLUSIVE OF MORE DATA AND HOSPITAL DATA AND BUT WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT, REALLY GEAR YOUR PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS AND THE PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THE HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, ALL OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE CREATED IS OUT OF DATA.

UNFORTUNATELY, FORTUNATELY FOR THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR OUR TOPIC OUR TATT DATA IS WIDESPREAD, ANYPLACE ELSE, WAS IT OPII PUNISHING.

WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE NOBODY WAS THERE.

E OPII PICKER?

DID THEY FALL IN, WE DON'T KNOW NOBODY WAS THERE.

DATA IS SO HARD TO CAPTURE, STATEWIDE, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT AND BUT IF WE CAN GET TO THE POINT DO A BETTER JOB OF CAPTURING DATA AND THEN UTILIZING THAT THROUGH FORUMS SUCH AS ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT OVENUES WE CAN START MOVING FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY BRING DOWN THAT MORBIDITY AN MORTALITY.

>>Lauren: GET TO ONE MORE VIEWER QUESTION BEFORE WE HAVE WRAP UP.

CALEB IN MCCULLY ASKING, MAYBE AMANDA YOU MIGHT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.

WHAT ARE STATES WHO STATS ARE BETTER THAN OUR DOING DIFFERENTLY?

IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT HE CAN LEARN FROM THEM?

>> ANYTHING WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM?

THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION.

I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I CAME ON THIS JOB WAS GO TO NATIONAL CONFERENCE.

AND FLORIDA IS DOING SOME FANTASTIC WORK.

AND IT'S, AS CLOSE AS I CAN RECALL, IT'S SORT OF ATTACKING IT'S AN ISSUE ON ALL FRONTS.

LIFEGUARDS, SWIMMING LESSONS, IDENTIFYING BODIES OF WATER THAT ARE DANGEROUS.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE LIKE THE CANALS, THEY HAVE WILD WATER, VARIOUS KIND OF WILD WATER.

AND THEN DOING THE EDUCATION, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND GETTING WORD OUT THERE.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS ON MY LIST TO REALLY LOOK INTO, HOW ARE THEY OPERATING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR STATS ARE.

I JUST KNOW EVERYBODY SAYS OH, MY GOSH, THIS GUY IN FLORIDA DOING FANTASTIC WORK.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THINGS I REALLY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

>>Lauren: TWO MINUTES LEFT.

GIVE LAST QUESTION MORGAN AND JIMMY MAYBE YOU CAN SPLIT IT.

ANY MISCONCEPTIONS THAT PARENTS HAVE COMES TO WATER SAFETY IN OUR POOLS OR AT BEACHES.

>> BAY YOU WOULD WANT NEM TO TAKE AWAY AND JUST HAVE SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT TONIGHT?

>> I THINK YOU CAN DEFINITELY AGREE WITH ME ON THIS.

LIFEGUARDS ARE NOT BABYSITTERS.

THEY'RE NOT THERE TO SPECIFICALLY WATCH YOUR CHILD PLAYING IN THE BREAK.

THERE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS THE WATER IS SAFE.

IN THE WATER, ALONG THE SHORELINE, SO MAKING SURE ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR CHILDREN AREN'T STRONG SWIMMERS STAYING WITHIN ARM'S REACH AND HAVE SOMEONE DESIGNATED TO WATCH THEM WHILE THEY'RE SWIMMING.

>>Lauren: WHAT ABOUT IF KID HAS A FLOATY ON?

>> BE HONEST.

MY KIDS USED TO USE FLOATY.

I'M RIGHT THERE WITH HER.

GOOD THING FOR PARENTS TO HEAR.

>> I SHOULD STILL BE WITHIN ARM'S REACH AT ALL TIMES.

YOUR KIDS THAT AREN'T STRONG SWIMMERS.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WITH A FLOATY.

COULD BREAK.

SLIP RIGHT OUT THERE.

SOMEONE ON THE BEACH COULD TAKE IT OFF OF THEM.

YOU SHOULD WATCH YOUR KIDS.

UMPLETS YOU'RE NODDING YOUR HEAD.

>> ONLY TAKES A MINUTE.

ONLY TAKES ONE SECOND FOR SOMETHING COULD BE STRONGEST SWIMMER,ER SWIM TEAM, JUST SWIMMING SOMEBODY, RUNS OVER THEM WITH A SURFBOARD AND THEY'RE UNCONSCIOUS.

IF YOU'RE THERE WITH YOUR CHILDREN, KEEP AN EYE ON THEM AND WORK AS A FAMILY FIRST, FAMILY UNIT TO TEACH THEM PREVENTION, AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE BEACH AND LEARN SWIM PROGRAM.

WORK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

AND THEN INCORPORATE THINGS LIKE THE JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM.

CITY, Y, WHATEVER ELSE YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

AND TO MAKE THEM SAY SAFE AS YOU POBLG CAN.

>>Lauren: THANK YOU 201H COACH FORM COULD GO TONIGHT SAFE MAKE THEM SAFE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

>>Lauren: HOPEFULLY MORE CONVERSATION AS STATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS: REPRESENTATIVE JEANNÉ KAPELA, AND YMCA AQUATICS DIRECTOR MORGAN BRAILO, AND HONOLULU OCEAN SAFETY DIVISION DEPUTY CHIEF JIMMY BARROS, AND AMANDA ALLISON FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

NO INSIGHTS NEXT WEEK, BUT PLEASE JOIN US AS WE MARK A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.

PBS HAWAII TURNED 60 THIS MONTH.

FOR THE LAST SIX DECADES, WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO SHARING LOCAL STORIES THAT INFORM, INSPIRE, AND REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY.

JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE 60 YEARS OF STORYTELLING.

I'M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI‘I.

ALOHA!

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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