Turning in his gym shorts for a bathing suit and goggles, last week HEAT center Vladimir Stepania joined more than 700 kids at the Fort Lauderdale Swimming Hall of Fame to help stress the importance of water safety as part of the HEAT’s “Learn To Swim” campaign. Stepania, a former top-ranked junior swimmer as a youth in his native Republic of Georgia, participated in live water demonstrations, dramatic water rescues and life-saving skills in an effort to show the importance of preventing water accidents. He even finished off the morning with a race against the other swimming demonstrators from the American Heritage Aquatic Team, showing off his swimming proficiency with his speedy backstroke and butterfly – all in perfect form of course. HEAT mascot Burnie and the high-flying HEAT Xtreme Team joined Vladi to entertain the energetic and attentive kids who received HEAT goodies throughout the morning.

Teaming up with Broward County Fire Rescue and Broward County Swim Central, this event was the continuation of the HEAT’s “Learn To Swim” initiative, which stresses the importance of the need for parents and children to learn how to swim and to be cautious in the water.

HEAT center Brian Grant joined first-time swimmers in the pool last month at “April Pools Day” in Miami Springs when the HEAT and the American Red Cross of Greater Miami & The Keys launched the summer-long water safety campaign.

The HEAT’s swimming safety campaign will continue all summer with community appearances and water safety tips and information on area pools teaching swimming lessons on www.HEAT.com.