Shallow Water Blackout Prevention has partnered with the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps and the Michael Phelps Foundation to release a PSA
Nick lives in Miami, FL, having relocated from England after marrying a native Floridian in Key West in 2018. He is an Economics graduate and served in the Royal Naval Reserves for seven years through which he became a qualified SCUBA diver, diving primarily off the Ascension Island in the mid-Atlantic. While awaiting his US work authorization, Nick volunteered with Third Wave Volunteers and the City of Miami to deliver donations to the Bahamas following the Hurricane Dorian disaster. He was appointed as warehouse manager and was responsible for the shipment of 250,000 lbs of donations from the general public of Miami to Grand Bahama and the Abacos. He now works in Business Development for a global payments company in Miami and spends his spare time golfing, playing guitar, spending time with his pets and volunteering.
Nick became involved in Shallow Water Blackout Prevention after his high school friend from England tragically died while swimming unsupervised in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Nick is committed to expanding the reach of Shallow Water Blackout Prevention to educate individuals and prevent avoidable tragedies. He will be working with Amanda Balius and Layla Alo Caballero,our other Ambassadors from the Miami area to create the Miami Chapter of Shallow Water Blackout Prevention.
Welcome Nick, and thank you for your interest in working with us.
Jackie De Leon is 16 years old and was born in NYC but moved to California when she was four-years-old. Jackie immediately fell in love with her new beach community. She signed up for swim lessons shortly after her arrival and in no time was invited to join the neighborhood swim team. When Jackie was in middle school, she participated in the local Junior Lifeguard Program and later became CPR certified.
Jackie also enjoys surfing and has sailed on the lakes in the high Sierras. Currently, she is a member of a rowing team. Jackie is aware of water safety because of her involvement in swimming, sailing, surfing, and rowing. However, she just learned of Shallow Water Blackout from a friend who lost her son to this silent killer. She was surprised to discover how easy it is for recreational and skilled swimmers, divers and water polo players of all ages to succumb to Shallow Water Blackout. What was most surprising to Jackie is that even elite-level athletes die from this phenomenon. She wanted to spread awareness in her community to prevent another life lost to Shallow Water Blackout.
Welcome to the team, Jackie!
We are pleased to announce that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed a proclamation stating that May 31st, 2019 is Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Day.
We would like to thank Governor Kemp and his staff for their faithful service to the great state of Georgia, and for their concern about the safety and well being of its citizens.
Official Proclamation
We wish to encourage all of our friends and followers to take a moment today and share information about the dangers of SWB with your friends and loved ones. The only way to save lives from more senseless tragedies due to SWB is through education and prevention.
People from all over Orange County including hardcore runners, entire families, toddlers and even dogs participate in this long running community event that began as a way to promote exercise and healthy habits within the Newport Mesa Unified School District. Nick and his family felt that the Spirit Run was a perfect fit for a Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Booth.
The booth was a great success! Nick says,
“We spoke to all sorts of people: from moms and dads, little kids, teens, athletes of all ages and abilities, retired servicemen and even lifeguards. Mrs. Curreri also joined us and was able to share how she became involved with Shallow Water Blackout. She even wore her son Joseph Curreri’s Staff Sergeant shirt. I’d like to encourage other ambassadors to seek out community events in order to share the SWBP message. For me, speaking to a diverse group of people was way less intimidating than speaking to a captive group of lifeguards or swimmers. Also, my hope is that by reaching out to a broader group of people that Shallow Water Blackout Prevention will become more widely talked about in many different forums.”
Nick and his family also raised $500 in donations for SWBP, and we couldn’t be more proud of one of our first ambassadors getting out into his community! As part of his Ambassadorship, Corona del Mar High School SWBP Club and Senior Project, this money was raised in conjunction with the first Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Booth.
Executive Director's Note: Karen Curreri’s son, former USC swimmer Joe Curreri, a Staff Sergeant and Special Forces communications sergeant assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Wash. died on October 26, 2007, in an accidental drowning incident after experiencing a shallow water blackout at Siet Lake while deployed to the Southern Philippines region near Panamao, Jolo Island, Republic of the Philippines. Karen became involved with our organization afterwards and subsequently asked us if Nick, one of the students she counsels through her College Admissions counseling Business, could become an Ambassador. Since then Nick has been actively raising awareness about the causes and prevention of shallow water blackouts.
Shallow Water Blackout Prevention has been selected as a Corporate Partner with Swim Teachers Association of the UK for their Annual International Learn to Swim Week May 13 - 19, 2019.
STA’s International Learn to Swim Week is back with the aim to promote water safety and learning to swim, no matter age, location, or ability.
With over 150 Swim Star Swim Schools, 20 Swim Academies and 30,000 STA swimming teachers internationally, we want everyone to get involved to teach the enjoyable and important skill of learning to swim.
Help STA preserve human life by the teaching of swimming, lifesaving, and survival techniques by participating in our biggest learn to swim campaign yet. With your help we can encourage people of all ages and abilities to get in the pool and open the door to a wealth of water skills.
For more information visit www.sta.co.uk/events/international-learn-to-swim-week/
I am Alexandra Beran, a sophomore at the University of Richmond and a diver on the varsity Swim and Dive Team. I am also participating in the Army ROTC Program. I lost a friend to shallow water blackout this past summer and I am a lifeguard and aware of shallow water blackouts, but I still didn't realize how grave the consequences of prolonged breath-holding can be even with breath-control training for the military and swim teams. I want to raise awareness and educate others to prevent these senseless deaths. Many people question how an adult who knows how to swim can drown. Consequently, I want to help those who lost loved ones from having to explain over and over how drowning after a shallow water blackout occurs by educating as many people as I can. Most people do not understand that the victim lost consciousness and then the body forced a breath, which caused the drowning. Anybody who goes into the water should be aware of shallow water blackouts and what causes one and how to prevent one for their own safety, the safety of others, and understanding of those who lost loved ones.
Welcome to the SWBP family, Alex! Thank you for all your hard work. We are thankful to have you on board.
