CALIFORNIA WATER SAFETY SUMMIT WRAPS UP IN SAN DIEGO
DRAWS INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION BRINGING LEADERS TOGETHER CHAMPIONING FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES AND WATER SAFETY ADVANCEMENT
Collaboration to Save Lives and Proclaim the Month of May as
Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Mon
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, April 26, 2023: The Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego (PDFSD) has partnered with the California Water Safety Coalition (CWSC) to host the third annual California Water Safety Summit. This event is a forum for collaboration on best practices, programs, and policies that reduce drowning and aquatic injuries. Featuring a variety of presentations and conversations across a range of drowning prevention topics and serving as the launch event for the California Water Safety Strategy.
“This is a springboard event and the start of great things to come. Coming together and collaborating to teach more kids how to swim and spread drowning prevention awareness will ultimately make our communities safer,” said James Gartland, San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Chief, who welcomed the 170 water safety leaders in attendance at the California Water Safety Summit.
The (CWSC) has developed the California Water Safety Strategy to provide guidance on policies and priorities for state and local governments and organizations, aiming to stimulate necessary actions by local communities. It is designed to align stakeholders across the state and to prevent drowning and increase water safety efforts. The CWSC was established in 2022 by the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation, the Jasper Ray Foundation, and The ZAC Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with and host the California Water Safety Coalition in San Diego and to now have an actionable plan in place that will prevent drownings in San Diego and across the state,” said Nicole McNeil, President of the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego. “We’re excited to help drive awareness and adoption of the Water Safety Strategy in our community.”
PDFSD and CWSC are inviting all communities to proclaim the month of May as Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Month, share in the implementation of the California Water Safety Strategy, and help in spreading the importance of water safety to local communities. The proclamations will begin on April 26, 2023 by the City of San Diego Council President Sean Elo-Rivera along with support from several city, state and water safety stakeholders. Together we can prevent future water safety tragedies. #CAwatersafety
Why water safety needs to be a priority in California: Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Each year in California, over 400 people die from drowning and more that 1,200 are involved in non-fatal drowning incidents which require a visit to the emergency department or hospitalization. California has thousands of miles of ocean coast and inland lakefront, nearly 200,000 miles of rivers and over 1.3 million pools. Californians love the water, but the risk of drowning is ever present.
Quick Facts:
- California Department of Public Health reports that between 2016-2021, 2,559 California residents died from drowning, and thousands more were treated in hospitals and emergency departments for non-fatal drowning.
- Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of death for children under 14.
- 92% of drowning deaths in California are residents, 5% are from other states and 3% are from other countries.
- 48% of all drowning deaths occur in June, July and August.
#CAwatersafety
