Sticht Center Offers Birthday Pool Party Packages

September 12, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Children’s birthday parties are now being offered at the J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging and Rehabilitation of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

While the Sticht Center is best known for its work with aging adults, swimming lessons in the warm-water pool have long been available to children of various ages. According to learn- to-swim coordinator Debbie Drayton, the pool parties were started because of growing requests from parents whose children were taking swim classes.

“We believe it is good to share our knowledge of safe swimming with children and their parents in any way possible,” said Drayton. “The specialized birthday parties present an opportunity for children to learn about pool safety, safe swimming and supervised games.”

The pool at the center is fully staffed with lifeguards and trained individuals in recreational therapy, CPR, first aid and water safety. Party packages vary by individual and can include pool games, craft times, and other fun learning activities. Party themes currently offered include dolphin, pirate and tropical fish. Children who attend these parties receive a $5 off coupon for their next swim lesson. Currently, the center does only two parties per month, so space is limited.

For more information, please contact Drayton at (336) 713-8190 or by email at ddrayton@wfubmc.edu. You can also visit the aquatics program website at www.wfubmc.edu/aquatics.

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Media Relations Contacts: Lisa Davanzo, ldavanzo@wfubmc.edu at (336) 716-6906, Bonnie Davis, bdavis@wfubmc.edu, at (336) 716-4977 or Shannon Koontz, shkoontz@wfubmc.edu, at (336) 716-2415.

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center is an academic health system comprised of North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Brenner Children’s Hospital and Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which operates the university’s School of Medicine and Piedmont Triad Research Park. The system comprises 1,154 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds and has been ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report since 1993. Wake Forest Baptist is ranked 32nd in the nation by America’s Top Doctors for the number of its doctors considered best by their peers. The institution ranks in the top third in funding by the National Institutes of Health and fourth in the Southeastern United States in revenues from its licensed intellectual property.

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