Salem Health invests in drowning prevention and water safety
Drowning can happen quickly, but access to basic water-safety resources can help prevent it. To make a difference, Salem Health is providing free life jackets to local families, supporting swimming lessons for those who may not otherwise have access, and partnering with community organizations to help more people build essential water-safety skills.
“Pools are one thing, but a lot of people are going out to rivers and swimming holes,” said Salem Health Director of Community Outreach Tricia Frizzell. “So, we want to increase safety and decrease trauma and visits to emergency care through education and prevention.”
Meeting the need at the right time
Since the start of 2026, the Salem Health Community Health Education Center has distributed more than 1,100 free life jackets.
“That is more than triple what we did last year,” said CHEC manager Nancy Pruett. “This is all part of our community health improvement work. We’re hoping to increase that by another several hundred next year.”
Members of the CHEC team attended family-focused events throughout the summer to distribute life jackets to those in need.
“That’s the time when people are out on the water, and we want to make sure those children and families are protected,” said Pruett. “Unfortunately, drownings do happen in our area, and every summer we hear about drownings that could have been avoided if families had access to life jackets.”
This is the first year the CHEC extended life jacket giveaways to adults as well as infants, children and teens.
“The biggest factor behind if a child wears a life jacket is if they see a trusted adult wearing one,” said Pruett.
The CHEC also provided a large supply of life jackets to the kiosk at Riverview Park in Independence, as well as in Silverton.
Making swimming lessons accessible
At the same time, Salem Health dollars are funding swimming lessons for the Family YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties and Stayton Family Memorial Pool.
This supports lessons for rural and low-income families and can include tailored swim lessons for developmentally delayed students or those who need specific instruction.
Additionally, Salem Health committed to a pilot partnership with The Woodburn Aquatic Center for free swim lessons for 4th graders starting in 2027.
“Lessons teach basic survival skills,” said Pruett. “You’re learning how to float, tread water and get to a place of safety in case you’re in need of rescue.”
Water safety for everyone
Pruett said the CHEC encourages families to designate a responsible adult to watch swimmers before anyone gets in the water, so there’s no question about who is keeping an eye on them.
“We support swim lessons and water safety because it saves lives,” she said. “We’re a hospital system and we see what happens when people don’t receive this life-changing education.”