Pasadena leaders and Rose Bowl Aquatic Center push water-safety training at public event

Melanie Sauer, executive director of the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, opened a water-safety awareness event in Pasadena by urging residents to sign children and adults up for swim lessons and to learn CPR, saying the effort requires partnerships between the center, the city and local schools.

"Water safety and swimming lessons are essential," Sauer said, asking attendees to consider ‘‘is there somebody in your life that you can encourage to sign up for a swimming lesson, a child or an adult, to learn CPR, and just be vigilant around water.’’

The event assembled public-health, fire and elected officials to stress why prevention matters. Dr. Matthew Feaster, an epidemiologist with the Pasadena Public Health Department, gave local context: he said 31 percent of drownings in Pasadena involve older adults and warned that common contributors include medical emergencies and alcohol use. He also cautioned about waterborne illnesses and urged proper pool disinfection and pH maintenance.

"Pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds that are properly maintained are less likely to spread germs," Feaster said, adding that keeping pH levels and disinfection systems functioning helps prevent illnesses ranging from swimmer's itch to more serious infections.

Christina Alvarado, director of programming at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, described her own near-drowning as a child and framed the RBAC program as a long-running community safety initiative. She said the center has partnered with Pasadena Unified School District for decades and that "for 35 years, this program has been doing lifesaving work," adding that more than 28,000 PUSD third-graders have participated in the program.

Councilmember Tyrone Hampton (1st District) recounted a neighbor's loss and said the episode motivated him to get his daughter into lessons and later to learn himself. "I decided I needed to learn how to swim, and I learned how to swim here at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center," Hampton said, urging other municipalities and pool owners to open access for training.

Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustine described how quickly drownings can occur and why bystander response matters, recommending hands-only CPR and AED training. Augustine introduced a joint lifeguard and fire-department rescue demonstration that showed victim retrieval, immediate chest compressions and a simulated handoff to paramedics. He emphasized regular practice so responders can operate like a "pit crew" to maintain continuous compressions and advanced life support.

Arvin, chief operating officer of the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, closed the remarks with a rundown of the day's activities — the rescue demonstration, facility tours, a treading-water event and a later panel conversation — and invited attendees to participate in demonstrations and classes offered at the center.

The event emphasized that drowning prevention rests on layered steps: swim lessons and water competency, active supervision such as buddy systems, pool maintenance and bystander CPR. Organizers encouraged residents to register for lessons, learn CPR and use city and RBAC resources to reduce drowning risk in the community.