USACE Los Angeles District partners with LA County on summer safety videos

By Robert DeDeauxJuly 24, 2022

Rehearsal
1 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – LA County Parks and Recreation Senior Lake Lifeguard Oscar Villagomez, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Park Rangers Robert Moreno and Annel Monsalvo, review their scripts for the joint safety video production in Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park June 1 in LA County. The summer safety videos will be broadcasted in English and Spanish. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Production Crew
2 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District public affairs set up lights, camera, audio equipment and rehearse with the lead actress before a video production at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park May 31 in LA County. The District and the LA County Parks and Recreation partnered to produce bilingual videos to promote safe summer recreation. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Brittany Orduño
3 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – LA County Parks and Recreation Senior Lifeguard Brittany Orduño, poses for photos during joint safety video production in Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park June 1 in LA County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District and the LA County Parks and Recreation partnered to produce bilingual videos to promote safe summer recreation.
In addition to being a first-aid first responder, Orduño is also a certified emergency medical technician. This is her ninth year as lake lifeguard. Orduño is a native Covina County, California and began her love for aquatic safety and sports as a high school water polo player. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO)
(Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux)
VIEW ORIGINAL
On Set
4 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District public affairs set up lights, camera, audio equipment in preparation for a joint-video production at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park May 31 in LA County. USACE teamed with the LA County Parks and Recreation Agency to produce bilingual summer safety videos for the recreating public. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Nicolas Figueroa
5 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Ranger Nicolas Figueroa prepares to shoot a safety video at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park June 1 in Los Angeles County. Figueroa is the field training officer for new park rangers for LA District and has been with USACE for almost 19 years. In addition to being an instructor in various disciplines, he teaches stewardship of natural resources to conserve and restore natural habitats. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Park Gaggle
6 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – A gaggle of geese move freely through the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park June 1 in LA County. The geese and other wildlife made the perfect extras for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ and LA County Parks and Recreation Agency’s joint safety video production. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
En Espanol
7 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Park Ranger and Annel Monsalvo and LA County Parks and Recreation Senior Lake Lifeguard Oscar Villagomez conduct a public service announcement in Spanish during a joint safety video production in Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park June 1 in LA County. The District and the LA County Parks and Recreation partnered to produce bilingual videos to promote safe summer recreation. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Life Jacket
8 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – A lifeguard points to the standard label markings of a life jacket Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park June 1 in LA County. The LA Parks and Recreation Agency recommends only using lifejackets that have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard which are clearly labeled. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Park Ranger
9 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – AZUSA, California – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Park Ranger Annel Monsalvo provides safety tips for safe hiking along the San Gabriel River hiking trails May 31 in Azusa California. The District and the LA County Parks and Recreation partnered to produce bilingual videos to promote safe summer recreation. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL
Entrance
10 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – IRWINDALE, California – Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park hosted a joint video production highlighting recreational summer safety May 1 – June 1 in LA County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teamed with the LA County Parks and Recreation Agency to produce bilingual safety videos for the recreating public. (Photo by Robert DeDeaux, Los Angeles District PAO) (Photo Credit: Robert DeDeaux) VIEW ORIGINAL

AZUSA, California -The Los Angeles District teamed up with LA County Parks and Recreation May 31 – June 1 to produce videos promoting summer safety.

The joint production, which was shot at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area in Irwindale and at San Gabriel River hiking trails in Azusa, is the first official collaborative communication effort between the two organizations.

“It’s important because it is our responsibility as public servants to educate the community, so they have a safe and enjoyable time when they come to our facilities,” said District Senior Park Ranger Robert Moreno. “We are really focused on how to be safe in and around the water.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety statistics and estimates, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury or death for children 14 and younger, following vehicle accidents. There are more than 3,900 drownings each year in the U.S. That is an average of 11 unintentional drowning deaths per day.

“The Corps and the lake lifeguards have the same mission to serve the public and provide a safe outdoor space for recreating, especially around a water environment,” said LA County Parks and Recreation Senior Lake Lifeguard Oscar Villagomez.

Most of the completed videos, or public service announcements, will focus on water safety – including extensive life jacket information.

“My greatest fear is that parents may drop their defenses and forget how dangerous it is for children to be around water,” said Villagomez, a county employee of more than 20 years. “Drownings happen too often. It’s preventable. We must all do everything we can to make sure a fun day doesn’t become a tragedy.”

In 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 613 boating-related deaths. Seventy-nine percent of these deaths were drownings, and 86 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

“This video explains the importance of life jackets, what type of lifejackets to wear, how to properly wear them, and places to find one for free,” Villagomez said.

Most of the videos will be produced in both English and Spanish for the public’s convenience.

“It is important to look at the demographics of Los Angeles County,” said Villagomez, an LA County resident.

The public service announcements will be available on the LA County Parks and Recreation website and several LA District media platforms, including YouTube and other social media sites. In addition to the topic of water safety, one of the PSAs will focus on other summer safety topics, such as hiking safety awareness.

“I look forward to collaborating with our county supporters, so we may continue to provide outstanding service to the recreating public,” said Nicolas Figueroa, LA District park ranger. “We work really close with Parks and Recreation and are happy to be able to partner with them.”

There are six dams and five recreational parks that the Corps operates in the LA County area. LA County Parks and Rec is one of the agencies that lease Corps-operated lakes and dams.

“We really want to get the word out about water safety,” Moreno said.

For more information on drowning prevention: www.cdc.gov/drowning/facts/index.html.

-30-