Blair McGuffie, Aquatics Professional, LLC.

12/28/2025

Awareness saves lives. 💙 In the span of just one week, two young autistic children were rescued alive after wandering and being found in water. These outcomes were possible because responding officers knew to search water first—a critical understanding when an autistic child is missing.

At NAA, we continue to raise awareness about wandering and water safety because the risks are real—and preventable.

We are grateful these stories ended in rescue, not tragedy. Let’s keep working together to protect autistic children and support families with empathy, education, and action.

🔗 Learn more about wandering prevention and water safety on NAA's website.
🔗 Links to the stories are in the comments.

11/06/2025

Always!! And ANY of body water nearby!!!

Always check the pool first! If your child is hiding in a closet or under the bed, they're not in immediate danger. Focus on the most hazardous areas first! Almost 70% of childhood drownings happen during non-swim times.

11/01/2025

Lifeguards are here to help and keep you safe. Make a safer choice and always sit near a lifeguard and supervise your children when they're swimming.

10/28/2025

Enrolling in swim lessons gives your family life-saving skills that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Don't let the season spook you. Enroll in swim lessons today!

10/12/2025

🏊‍♀️ Did You Know?

Swimming works every major muscle group while being gentle on the joints.

Helping children build strength, fitness, and confidence in a safe, fun way! 💪

09/12/2025

Confidence doesn’t come overnight — it’s built, one splash at a time. 🌊💙

Start your child’s swimming journey today and watch them grow into strong, safe swimmers.

09/03/2025

Baby Safety!!

It's Baby Safety Month! Here are some tips to keep your baby safer at bath time. For more information on drowning prevention for parents, check out this valuable resource from the NDPA. https://ndpa.org/parents/

08/26/2025

Baby swimming = bonding + health benefits 👶❤️

From boosting heart and lung function to building strength, stamina, and mobility, swimming supports little ones’ development long before they crawl or walk.

It’s also a fantastic way for parents to bond and support growth.

08/12/2025

📢 With the 2025-2026 school year now in session, the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards have concluded their coverage on Perdido Key Public Access #2 after providing service from May 24 to Aug. 10. The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards recorded the following statistics during the 2025 season on Perdido Key:

-Public Contacts: 5,983 interactions
-Preventive Actions: 2,394
-Beach Rule Enforcements: 829
-Water Rescues: 11
-Major Medical Aids: 2
-Minor Medical Aids: 1,210
-Lost Children Reunited with Family: 2

🏊‍♂️ The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will continue to provide services at Johnson Beach on Perdido Key until Labor Day, as staffing allows. The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will also continue to staff the lifeguard towers on Pensacola Beach through mid-October. Residents and visitors are urged to exercise caution when visiting the beach and swimming in the Gulf, especially when lifeguards are not present.

07/25/2025

According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, more than 4,500 people die from unintentional drowning each year in the United States.

Today is World Drowning Prevention Day — a reminder that water safety saves lives. Here are a few ways you can help promote water safety at home or in your community:

- Installing barriers controlling access to water
- Teaching swimming, water safety & safe rescue skills
- Teach Longfellow's WHALE Tales (in English and Spanish) which can be found here: https://rdcrss.org/459IG1Q
- Look in the comments for additional resources to learn more about how you can stay safer in, on and around the water.

07/24/2025

Check out this new article from Forbes highlighting how Diversity In Aquatics and other millennial-led organizations are reshaping what water safety looks like — and saving lives in the process.

From trauma-informed swim programs to international events, we’re helping more communities reconnect with the water, build trust, and create real access to safety and opportunity.

There’s still so much work to do, but it’s powerful to see this movement gaining national attention.

🔗 https://bit.ly/44KFo6A

07/22/2025

This month, Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup recalled millions of their above-ground pools. Families should be aware of the drowning risk posed by the compression strap that surrounds the outside of the pool legs, which may create a foothold that allows a child access to the pool. For further details, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission or click the link below:

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Bestway-Intex-and-Polygroup-Recall-Certain-Above-Ground-Pools-48-Inches-and-Taller-Due-to-Drowning-Hazard-Nine-Deaths-Reported-Five-Million-Pools-Sold-Since-2002