Penny Pantano, R.N., B.S.N.

Owner of Swim-in Zone, Inc. 

Education

1995    School Nurse Certification, Cedar Crest College

            Licensed Professional Nurse

1994    B.S.N. Cedar Crest College, Summa Cum Laude

1969    Graduate Nurse Presbyterian-University Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA.

Employment in Nursing

2002-2003        KidsPeace National Hospital for Kids in Crisis

1989-96           East Penn School District

1969 -71          Full time nursing, ICU Ohio State University Hospital

Employment/Volunteer Aquatics

2004-present               Water Safety Chairman for Safe Kids Coalition

2002-2003        Swim School Consultant for Rodale Aquatic Center at  Cedar   Crest College-   marketed, developed, supervised, organized and trained instructors

1998-present    Chairman of Safe Kids Family Water Safety Day, Allentown

1993-2002       “Gus and Goldie Water Safety Program”- developed, marketed, instructed and supervised this nationally franchised water safety program for Lehigh Valley

1993-1998       Safety Chairman Emmaus Aquatic Club

1993-1995       Mid-Atlantic Division of USA Swimming Safety Committee

1990-present    Boy Scouts of America, merit badge counselor for swimming

1989-present    Am. Red Cross Instructor Trainer for Water Safety and Lifeguard Training

1989-1996       Meadow Pool Assn. 8 & Under coach

1989-1999       Rodale Aquatic Center Development Committee

1984-2002       Emmaus Aquatic Club - founded, developed, coordinated, instructed and    supervised the Emmaus Aquatic Club Swim School

1984-2002       Emmaus Aquatic Club swim coach

1983-1985       Lehigh Valley Aquatic Club- developed, coordinated, and supervised lesson program

1982-1985       Member Red Cross Water Safety Committee

1981-1984       Owned and operated swim school in Emmaus, PA

1980-present    Am. Red Cross Lifeguard Training Instructor

1980-present    USA Masters Swimmer

1979-1996       Meadow Pool Assn. developed, and supervised summer swim lesson program 

1979-1981       YM/YWCA Allentown, instructed swim lessons

1977-present    Adaptive Aquatics instructor including adults and children with blindness, Down’s syndrome, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, & deafness

1964-1979       Various jobs and volunteer activities with Red Cross, Salvation Army, YMCA, YWCA, Camp Brashear teaching swimming and lifesaving to adults and children

American Red Cross Certifications

Lifeguard Training                                                      1964-present

Water Safety Instructor                                               1966-present

Lifeguard Training Instructor                                        1966-present

Adaptive Aquatics Instructor                                        1988-present

Lifeguard Training Instructor Trainer                              1989-present

Water Safety Instructor Trainer                                     1989-present

USA Swimming Coach                                                  1989-2003

Safety Training for Swim Coaches                                  1989-2003

Professional CPR Instructor                                          1991-present

First Aid Instructor                                                      1991-present

Professional CPR Instructor Trainer                                1994-present

Oxygen Administration Instructor Trainer                        2001-present

Oxygen Administration Instructor                                   2001-present

Oxygen Administration                                                  2001-present

Automatic External Defibrillator                                     2000-present

AED Instructor                                                            2001-present

AED Instructor Trainer                                                  2001-present

Preventing Disease Transmission Instructor Trainer          2001-present

Other Certifications

Basic Canoeing Instructor                                             1978-1996

River Canoeing Instructor                                              1987-1991

National Pool and Water Park Training                            1988-1989

Activities

1997- present   Member of Allentown and Bethlehem Area Safe Kids Coalition

1980-present    Member of Faith Presbyterian Church Choir, Emmaus PA

1990-94           Member of Red Cross Health and Safety Committee

1989                Safety for Lehigh Valley Triathalon

1989-90            Delaware River Safety Patrol

1988-93            Race Chairman Lehigh Valley Canoe Club

1985-86            President of Lehigh Valley Canoe Club

1983-84            Instruction Chairman for Lehigh Valley Canoe Club

1981-85            Red Cross Small Craft Committee

1979-82            Cub Scout Den Mother

1979-96            Canoe racer- Nationally Ranked C-1W in ’84 and ‘85

1972-73            Developed and taught baby sitting course for JCC in    Ohio

1973-76            Girl Scout leader

Memberships

1977-2004      Lehigh Valley Canoe Club

1980-2004      American Canoe Association

1989-2002       Coach member of United States Swimming

1992-present        Member of United States Swim School Association

Awards

1997         Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society

1994         Cecilia C. Ryan Award for highest GPA- Cedar Crest College

1993         National Swim School Association Outstanding Teacher

1993         Delta Pi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholastic Honor Society

1991         Lehigh Valley Chapter of Red Cross Volunteer of the Month

Presentations and Publications

1995   Safety Day at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. “Safety on Moving Water”

1997   National Swim School Association Spring Seminar “Teaching Breaststroke”

1998    Pantano, Penny, Doctor’s Forum: July/August “Water Safety, Observations of a River Safety Patroller” pgs 49-51

1999    Articles on drowning, boating, tubing, rafting for Allentown and Bethlehem Area Safe Kids Coalition Resource Handbook

2000    National Swim School Association Spring Seminar “Exhaling, the Secret to Breathing While Swimming”.

2001    National Swim School Association Spring Seminar “Balanced Swimming for Beginner Swim Team”

2001    Pennsylvania Public Health Convention Speaker, “Family Water Safety Day, A Community Approach to Drowning Prevention”

2001    Community Services for Children Seminar on “Pool Safety for Children” for Nursery and Day Care personnel who take children to community pools.

2002    The Press Focus Article “Safety First is Priority at EMAC” written by Diane Roberts Tatum. Article is about Parent/Child class taught at EMAC by Penny Pantano

2002    ABC News Philadelphia with Anita Brickman, “Safety Tips for Preschoolers”.

2004    Presentation to United States Swim School Association Spring Seminar ''Teaching the Reluctant Child" Feb. 2004

2005   Curious Parents Magazine, May 2005, "Swimming is More Than Fun- It's a Skill That Can Save Your Child's Life".

2006   Lehigh Valley Sports Extra, November 2006 "Swimming, a Gift for Life".

2007   Lehigh Valley Sports Extra, June 2007 "Drowning is Preventable".

2007   Morning Call, "The Family Project" Expert on Water Safety invited to be a member of the Topic Team because the topic was safety issues involving a pool swim party.

2007   Saucon Valley News, August 2007 "Are You Afraid in Water?"

2008   Editorial in Morning Call, June 9, 2008, "Lack of Lifeguards is an Invitation to Danger".

2009   Lehigh Valley Sports Extra, January 2009, "Minority Swimming".

Personal

Married for 38 years, 3 children, 6 grandchildren, enjoys skiing, hiking, scuba diving, quilting, canoeing, traveling and swimming.