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Guide to Water Safety

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Each day in the United States, an average of 11 unintentional drowning deaths occur, with an annual total of nearly 4,000 deaths, and nationally, drowning is the leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 4 years (CDC). These deaths are preventable and have a significant impact on entire communities.

In order to prevent future deaths from occurring, it’s important to familiarize ourselves with potential hazards in pools, retention ponds, open water, and inside the home.

WARN Certified Organizations

Select a county to view locations

Organizations by county trained in Water Awareness in Residential Neighborhoods (WARN) Training

County Name Here

  • Health Department – Amanda Organist Amanda.organist@bartholomew.in.gov Aaron Sanders, Abbie Franey, Andrea May, Brenda Lewis, Dawn Johnson, Edith Titus, Elizabeth Burton, Heidi Hartsell, Keisha Robertson, Mary Shaffer, Tara Waldo, Nikkita Sanders nsanders@bartholomew.in.gov
  • Safe Kids Bartholomew County – Tanya Hiday thiday@djgusa.com Alicia Monroe, Amanda Organist, Beth Lehman, Cheryl Wright, Diane Doup, Gabrielle Genth, Jeff Kelly, Kathleen Wyrick, Lindsay Wyatt, Lindsey Baily, Patty Pigman, Skylar Berry, Susie Hodnett, TeAnn Bringle
  • School Health Liaison – Tracey Day
  • Health Department – Trudy Wolfe twolfe@blackfordcounty.in.gov
  • Region 7 Firefly Children & Family Alliance – Tashia Weaver tweaver@fireflyin.org, Kensey Litton, Letia Snorden, Loryn Craig, Madison Garrity, Sarah Schuhmacher, Thaija Wilson, Will Britten Jr.
  • Prevent Child Abuse IN – Jeff Wittman JWittman@villages.org, Carol Pool cpool@villages.org, Nina Benich
  • DCS – Amber Haynes Amber.Haynes@dcs.IN.gov, Andrew Cook, Ashley Conatser, Benjamin Mooney, Brittany McAndrews, Brittney McLearran, Christian Lewis, Constance Peterson, Cynthia Buffum, David Stevens, Elizabeth Sparks, Gabrielle Calobrace, James Shelton, James Shoffner, Jason Hurlock, Jennifer Burton, Jessica Duffy, Karlie Reinagle, Katelend Alexander, Kelsey Long, Keyli Miller, Kristina Robison, Lesley Turben, Macey Cox, Matthew Robson, Paula Sanders, Rebekah Ables, Sarah Cotton, Sensuous Balfour-Alexander, Stacey Morgan, Sydney Hibler, Taylor Cochran, Teagan Turley, Tonya Cox, Zachary Cox
  • School Health Liaison – Brenda Parker Brenda.parker@howardcountyin.gov
  • Health Department – Jennifer Sexton Jennifer.sexton@howardcountyin.gov

DCS – Franklin Williams franklin.williams@dcs.IN.gov, Jody Knoth jody.knoth@dcs.IN.gov

  • DCS – Nathan Noel Nathan.Noel@dcs.IN.gov, Brandy Worland, Crystal Mefford, Heidi Whitehead, Justin Cochran, Kiersten Updike, Lyla Theriac, Maria Williams, Misti Coatney, Nikki Rogers, Rachal Monroy, Savannah Cox-Tislow, Shaun Smith-Nelson, Susan Lents, Tracy Moore
  • Health Department – Susan Yochum syochum@knoxcounty.in.gov
  • DCS – Hannah Lyman Hannah.Lyman@dcs.IN.gov, Allison Everman, Alyssa Burch, Jessica Alesi, Kalyn Henry, Kassindra Neeley, Kayla Mahoy, Kimberlee Smith, Kristina Williams, Lacy Chambers, Thomas Koty Gray,
  • School Health Liaison – Sara Burnett sara.burnett@co.putnam.in.us
  • DCS Child Protection Team – Nicole Mock Nicole.mock@dcs.IN.gov, Ashley Akemon, Chad Puterbaugh, Craig Downey, Jackie Hendrickson, Joe Younts, Karen Frame, Keshia Locke, Kirsten Heitkamp, Lareina Medler, Lauren Henry, Lisa Weber, Michelle Perkins, Natalie Crist, Peggy Bradbury, Tashia Weaver, Trent Messer
  • Region 7 Firefly Children & Family Alliance – Tashia Weaver tweaver@fireflyin.org, Kensey Litton, Letia Snorden, Loryn Craig, Madison Garrity, Sarah Schuhmacher, Thaija Wilson, Will Britten Jr.
  • Region 7 Firefly Children & Family Alliance – Tashia Weaver tweaver@fireflyin.org, Kensey Litton, Letia Snorden, Loryn Craig, Madison Garrity, Sarah Schuhmacher, Thaija Wilson, Will Britten Jr.
  • Wells County Child Protection Team – Audrey Schueler Audrey.schueler@dcs.IN.gov, Tashia Weaver tweaver@fireflyin.org, Aber Foss, Alaina Schultz, Angie Vachon, Annalisa Collinsworth, Ashley Kilgore, Audrey Schueler, Carla Sue Castro, Carol Butler, Casey Hawn, Chip Swindell, Christina Chandler, Cliff Thomas, Colin Andrews, Deane Holderman, Holly Smith, Kadisia Williams, Katie Loplito, Kelly Goode, Kendall Schuck, Kristen Beer, Laura Dalrymple, Laurie Hoffacker, Leshly Lopez Martinez, Lora Masterson, Quinton Greer, Ronda Wilson, Sarah Rumschlag, Stephanie Eddy, Tammie Thompson, Taylor Saunders, Travis D. Stahl
  • Adams Wells Crisis Center – Jodi Mawhorr awcc.executivedirector@gmail.com
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WARN (Water Awareness in Residential Neighborhoods) Training – Public, virtual, free training

Upcoming WARN Trainings for the public:

  • Monday, 11/17/2025 at 10am EST
  • Tuesday, 1/13/2026 at 10 am EST
  • Tuesday, 3/10/2026 at 2pm EST
  • Wednesday, 5/13/2026 at 10 am EST
  • Wednesday, 6/10/2026 at 2pm EST

ASL Retention Pond Safety Video

When thinking about water safety it’s important to think of all the different places water can be found. In Indiana, it’s common to find retention ponds in and around neighborhoods. Retention ponds are used to provide temporary storage of excess rainfall but can create a new set of hazards for families.

The Division of Family Health Data and Fatality Prevention at IDOH, the Indiana School for the Deaf, and the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing partnered together to create a video addressing the dangers that can come with exposure to retention ponds. You can view the video here.

For support on starting water safety programming or questions about available resources, please contact:

Allie Houston, Prevention Programs Director
AHouston@health.in.gov

Olivia Hesler, Adolescent Fatality Prevention Coordinator
OHesler@health.in.gov