If you’re planning to spend any time in the water — whether outdoors or inside — as the weather continues to warm up, Long Beach has a workshop for you.
The city’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine, alongside the Fire Department, will host Water Safety Day in May, offering life-saving skills and basic safety tips for recreating in the water.
“As summer approaches, Water Safety Day is an opportunity to equip our community with life-saving skills, build confidence in and around the water for swimmers of all ages,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a news release, “and make sure people have access to the knowledge they need to stay safe.”
Drowning, according to the California Department of Developmental Services, is the leading cause of injury-related deaths among children under five in California, with an average of more than 51 drowning-related deaths in the state per year.
Children practice life-saving skills and learn water safety tips during Water Safety Day at Silverado Park Pool in 2025. (Photo courtesy of City of Long Beach).
Children practice life-saving skills and learn water safety tips during Water Safety Day at Silverado Park Pool in 2025. (Photo courtesy of City of Long Beach).
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Children practice life-saving skills and learn water safety tips during Water Safety Day at Silverado Park Pool in 2025. (Photo courtesy of City of Long Beach).
“Children and adults who survive near-drowning accidents often suffer permanent brain damage,” Governor Gavin Newsom wrote in a May 2025 letter marking Drowning Prevention Month. “The California Department of Developmental Services currently provides services to nearly 750 survivors of preventable near-drownings who require lifelong assistance for their disabilities.”
Basic water safety skills, including learning how to recognize the signs of drowning and other water-based emergencies, is crucial to staying safe — and will be the key focus of Long Beach’s upcoming Water Safety Day workshop.
The event, planned for Saturday, May 16, will be free and open to any people of any age and swimming level. Attendees will get education on survival floating, swimming skill evaluations, water rescue tips, hands-only CPR, proper lifejacket fitting, how to call 911, and more.
This year’s workshop marks the second year running Long Beach has offered Water Safety Day to residents. There will be three locations for classes this year, including the Belmont Plaza Pool, the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pool, and the Silverado Park Pool.
“At the conclusion of the event, participants are encouraged to stay for a free recreation swim from 1 to 3 p.m. at each of the three locations,” the city said. “Participants should plan to bring a swimsuit, towel and sun protection items such as sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.”
People can register for Water Safety Day via the city’s online registration platform, LB Rec Connect on lbparks.org. Attendees can also register in-person at each location on the day of the workshops.
For additional details, go to lbparks.org.