Water Safety Hero Award

Float Like A Duck Introduces “Water Safety Hero Award”

The “Water Safety Hero Award” was established in 2020 to acknowledge those who embody the traits of a Hero; Courage, Passion, Integrity, Confidence, Honesty, Patience, Selflessness, Caring, Supportive, and Humility, in the name of Water Safety. Awards are presented in two distinct categories:

Performing A Lifesaving Act:

o This special recognition is bestowed upon an individual for their courageous, swift, and heroic actions in aiding, someone in aquatic distress.

The Promotion of Water Safety:

o The award recognizes and honors those (individuals, groups, or organizations) who have gone above and beyond to promote water safety in their community through their actions and/or programs.

The award is presented to individuals/organizations who have gone above and beyond with selfless acts that assist in the saving of a life and/or advocate for water safety.

“By highlighting these Water Safety Heroes and their actions, we hope to encourage and inspire others to become water safety activists in their community as well as through vigilance around all water environments.”

— Float Like A Duck Founder Joseph M Vassallo, CBP PHTA Fellow.

Water Safety Hero Honorees

A circular medal with a blue marbled background and gold trim, hanging from a blue ribbon. The medal reads, 'Water Safety HERO Promotion of Water Safety'.

We are proud to honor individuals with the Water Safety Hero Award in the Category of the Promotion of Water Safety.

The award recognizes and honors those (individuals, groups or organizations) who have gone above and beyond to promote water safety in their community through their actions and/or programs.

Please read their stories of Activism!

3X Olympic Gold Medalist Rowdy Gaines receives Water Safety Hero Award in the Category of the Promotion of Water Safety

Two men standing in front of a poster celebrating water safety. The man on the right is holding a framed award or certificate. The poster features children swimming and enjoying water activities.

A gold medal with a blue ribbon reading "Olympian Rowdy Gaines" and "PITTA Step Into Swim." The medal says "Water Safety HERO Presented by Float Like a Duck."

A medal with a blue ribbon. The medal features an image of swirling water and text that reads: 'Water Safety HERO Performing a Lifesaving Act.'

We are proud to honor each of these individuals with the Water Safety Hero Award in the Category of Performing a Lifesaving Act.

The Float Like A Duck Water Safety Hero Award has been presented to these outstanding individuals whose courageous, swift, and heroic actions saved others from aquatic distress. These Heroes represent a vast range of ages and skill levels; from a 6-year-old, to competitive swimmers, and trained first responders.

Each incident is unique, but the common element is that a bystander recognized that someone was in need of help and jumped into action to provide assistance.

However, it is with great sadness that some of these notable Heroes lost their life in pursuit of assisting another.

“Awareness of others in any water environment is important,” notes Joseph M. Vassallo, President of Paragon Pools and Founder of Float Like A Duck. “We want to encourage adults and kids to be vigilant, exercise caution and follow recommended rescue tactics when attempting to aid someone. Actions such as calling 911, Reach-Throw-Don’t GO, and issuing CPR.”