Red Cross Makes Waves with Water Safety

July 21, 2023 - Pearl Daskam with American Samoa Red Cross presented to the Rotary Club of Pago Pago on water safety at the club’s weekly meeting on July 21st, 2023.

Pearl, a senior from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, is spending the summer with her family on-island and is volunteering with the Red Cross doing administrative and disaster response work.

At the meeting, she shared her goal on putting together a water safety program for the youth of American Samoa. She plans to incorporate American Red Cross WHALE Tales into this water safety program to educate kids accurately and effectively about the importance of being safe in, on, and around the water.

Pearl hopes to include topics such as Reach or Throw, Don’t Go, which discusses, in an age-appropriate manor, how if we see someone in the water that looks like they are in trouble, we should either throw them something that floats or reach out to them if they are close enough. This teaches youth that, if someone is in danger, there are ways to help them without also putting yourself in danger.

Pearl also hopes to include another effort called “Don’t Just Pack it, Wear Your Jacket,” which covers the importance of using a lifejacket and how to properly wear one.

Pearl stated that she appreciated the opportunity to present to the Pago Pago Rotary Club and has enjoyed her time as a volunteer at the American Red Cross of American Samoa.