PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Olga Perez, Founder of MVP Lifeguards, on NYC Department of Health Making Waves Program
1:37:29
·
129 sec
Olga Perez, founder of MVP Lifeguards, testified about their involvement in the NYC Department of Health's Making Waves program, which provides progressive swim lessons and lifeguard training in select schools. She emphasized the potential of this program to create a pipeline for city lifeguards and improve water safety education.
- The program currently offers swimming as part of PE credit in some schools, but lacks funding for year-round implementation.
- Perez advocated for additional funding to expand the program, allowing more students to learn to swim and potentially become certified lifeguards.
- She stressed the importance of water safety education, including teaching about rip currents and beach safety.
Olga Perez
1:37:29
Thank you.
1:37:30
So, again, my name is Olga Perez from LVP Lifeguards, and we are the vendor for the New York City Department of Health Making Waves program.
1:37:39
And we were a part of their expansion, so it existed in 2015 they were providing progressive swim to summer camp students from the New York City Department of Youth And Community Development.
1:37:51
And with their pilot program and expansion into the high schools became a contract that we are currently overseeing.
1:37:58
So, essentially, what we're doing is providing progressive swim and lifeguard training and select the schools throughout the city, and the swimming lessons is part of the PE credit.
1:38:09
So I wanted to just make you aware of this program that's already existing through the New York City Department of Health.
1:38:14
And then with additional funding for this program, we would be able to create a pipeline for the lifeguards, for the city.
1:38:22
So for example, again, we participate in various schools throughout the city.
1:38:28
So example over at Sewer Park right now.
1:38:31
Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding for the fall, we're not able to provide swimming in that school.
1:38:37
But if we had additional funding, then we would be able to provide swimming lessons in the fall and also in the spring.
1:38:44
So by the time the summer season comes around, they'll be able to get certified.
1:38:48
So while the city is aggressively recruiting lifeguards, let's say, from the swim teams, Let's also be mindful of the other students that we can teach them how to swim and really implement swimming as a PE credit and as a requirement, not only for the pipeline of lifeguards, but also for water safety in general.
1:39:07
For our kids should be able to be safe in the water and also educate them with the importance of recurrence and the beaches and so on and so forth.
1:39:15
So I just wanted you to be aware of this amazing program that's already existing.
Shekar Krishnan
1:39:20
Well, thank you so much for your testimony you all got to and for all your work and all the MVP's lifeguard's works too and for making us aware of all the work you're doing too.
1:39:28
We'd love to to to hear more about it as well.
1:39:30
So please reach out to to our office and we'd be very happy to meet and and to discuss more too.
1:39:35
So Thank you for your work.
Olga Perez
1:39:36
Definitely.
1:39:37
I'll give you my card on the way
Shekar Krishnan
1:39:38
out.
