Hundreds gather at Lake Gregory for First 5 San Bernardino water safety event

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Families across San Bernardino County got a head start on summer safety last week as First 5 San Bernardino hosted its Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day at Lake Gregory Regional Park, drawing hundreds of children, parents and caregivers for a day of education and family-friendly activities.

The event offered live demonstrations in partnership with the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Safe Kids Inland Empire program on the “ABCs of Water Safety: Active Adult Supervision, Barriers such as fences and pool covers, and CPR and swim classes.” Families also learned the critical difference between the dangers of floaties and properly fitted life jackets, connected with local resources, and enjoyed music, giveaways and free all-day access to the lake and its water attractions.

The timing reflects a real public health urgency. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for children under five in California, and incidents increase sharply as temperatures rise and families spend more time in and around water.

“Summer is a time for families to make memories together, and we want to make sure those memories are safe ones,” said Cindy Faulkner, interim executive director of First 5 San Bernardino. “Through our Kid Safe Summer campaign, we’re providing parents and caregivers with simple, practical tips that can make a lifesaving difference when children are around water.”

Michelle Parker, Safe Kids coordinator, Inland Empire with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, echoed that message saying, “Water safety starts long before children enter the water. The best way to prevent a tragedy is to be prepared before it happens.”

The event is one component of First 5 San Bernardino’s annual Kid Safe Summer campaign, now in its fourth year of helping families build safe summer habits. The campaign provides parents and caregivers with practical summer safety tips, information on local CPR classes and swimming lessons, free giveaways and access to resources that support the health and safety of young children throughout the summer. Watch the recap video of the Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day event. For more information and additional Kid Safe Summer resources, visit First5SanBernardino.org.

Additional County Update News – June 18, 2026