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School/Teacher:   Clark Magnet High School, Glendale USD/Ms. Dominique Evans-Bye
Class: EAST
Project Title:  Swiftwater Safety and Flood Awareness Campaign
Abstract:    The Los Angeles River claims about a dozen lives every year. After Southern California became heavily populated, concrete sloping banks were constructed to direct the flow of the water into the Los Angeles Harbor. Many of the local inhabitants don’t know about the dangers of the river. Teens ride their bikes along the sloping banks and children run in after any fallen toys. During the rainy season, the water level rises and it’s rushed directly to the ocean. A swiftwater awareness campaign is being created to inform the community, specifically young children, about the Los Angeles River, it’s dangers, and how victims are rescued. The Clark Magnet EAST class is in the process of creating a public service video that will be distributed to schools and public broadcast stations.
Many schools are located near the Los Angeles River and its flood channels. The project is of value to the community because many children are swept away by the river every year. The project will inform the local children about the dangers of the river, what they should do if they see someone being swept away, and the rescue techniques used by swiftwater rescuers. It will be stressed that swiftwater rescues may involve a high amount of risk even to professional rescuers and these techniques should never be attempted by non-professionals.

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