In 2006, there were 110 deaths due to drowning in Virginia. More than half of these deaths (54%) were in natural bodies of water. Virginians, age 15 to 24, experience the highest number of fatal drownings in the state and African-Americans drown at a woefully disproportionate rate. In response to these clarion calls, the Norfolk Department of Public Health, collaborated with the City of Norfolk Aquatics Division, and the Triple A “Norfolk Tides” baseball team, in the creation of the moving and insightful video WaterLine Teens: Keeping Heads Above Water, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health Center for Injury & Violence Prevention. Featuring compelling, true stories of near-drowning survivors and surviving family members and friends of fatal drowning victims, this impactful video also offers valuable water safety instruction and tips. Written, produced and directed by Terrance Afer-Anderson, with production services provided by Genesis 7 Media, this 22-minute video also features former Norfolk Tides catcher Matt Weiters, now a Major League player with the Baltimore Orioles; essential water safety tips, provided by Daniel Jones, Division Head, Aquatics; Wanda Jean Butts, founder of The Josh Project, a program that provides free swimming instruction to inner-city youth; Norfolk State University faculty and swimming coach Shaun Anderson, Program Coordinator, of the University’s “April Pool’s Day,” an American Red Cross water safety and awareness day event; and John Cruzat, Diversity Specialist, USA Olympic Swimming team. The WaterLine Teens: Keeping Heads Above Water video asks an important question to anyone who lives near or around water. Do You Know How To Swim?

Posted by Jayson on Monday, July 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am.