Onvida Health, in collaboration with the Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance, is excited to announce free monthly water safety workshops starting April 24, 2025. These workshops are designed to provide the community with essential water safety knowledge and life-saving skills.
Sessions will provide parents and caregivers with crucial water safety tips and hands-on CPR demonstrations equipping them with valuable emergency response skills. Registration opens on the first of each month via email at and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited to 30 participants per class. All participants will receive a child-sized, coast guard approved life jacket and educational materials.
The GYWSA workshops were made possible thanks to the Foundation of Onvida Health. As part of 2024 Innovation Week, the Foundation of Onvida Health sponsored Shark Tank. Shark tank is an opportunity for employees to identify needs within their departments and ask the Sharks (a panel of Foundation Board members) for funding. Deputy Mayor Carol Smith, who is also a nurse at Onvida Health and Channing Pinnt, Event Specialist, successfully pitched the idea for these workshops.
“I knew the Foundation was the perfect entity to support our Water Safety Workshops, as they are dedicated to making positive change in our community,” said Carol Smith, Deputy Mayor, “With the Foundation’s support, we are expanding efforts through community outreach and education to prevent drownings and make our community safer. Their generosity will absolutely save lives.”
The Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance was formed in the fall of 2023 to raise awareness around the importance of water safety, promote water safety education and reduce the number of drownings in the Yuma community. The alliance aims to create a safer environment for all, ensuring that the community can enjoy the benefits of water while minimizing risks. GYWSA brings various organizations across the county together and founding members include the City of Yuma, Yuma County, Onvida Health and Prison Hill Liquid Foundation.
“Water safety is a critical issue in our community, and the Greater Yuma Water Safety Alliance was created to do something about it,” said Jennifer Reichelt, City of Yuma Deputy City Administrator and GYWSA representative. “These workshops are another important step in our ongoing efforts to prevent drownings and save lives. By teaching CPR and basic water safety skills, we’re helping people feel more confident around water and better prepared to respond in an emergency. I’m proud of the work the Alliance is doing and grateful for the strong collaboration behind it.”
Upcoming schedule: (All classes are held from 10am-11am at Onvida Health Administrative Building 2400 S. Avenue A.)
- Thursday, April 24, 2025
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025
- Tuesday, June 24, 2025
- Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- Thursday, September 25, 2025
- Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Tuesday, December 16, 2025
