City of San Diego Council President Sean Elo-Rivera along with support from several city, state and water safety stakeholders proclaimed the month of May 2023 as Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month. PDFSD and CWSC invite 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. Together we can prevent future water safety tragedies. #CAwatersafety
WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH
Presented by Council President Sean Elo-Rivera
May 2023
WHEREAS, May as Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Month was established through a collaborative effort across the country to promote water safety and drowning prevention; AND
WHEREAS, each year, drowning incidents result in hundreds of emergency room visits, many hospital stays and potential life-altering and permanent disabilities of San Diego residents and visitors; AND
WHEREAS, the 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; AND
WHEREAS, the City of San Diego acknowledges the launch of the California Water Safety Strategy which highlights knowledge gaps, major priorities, and action areas where focus is required to reduce the burden of drowning across the state; AND
WHEREAS, San Diego has its own considerations and context for drowning prevention in all bodies of water for residents and visitors, including ocean and rip current safety, pool safety and access to swim lessons for all; AND
WHEREAS, the City of San Diego, and all of the attendees and sponsors of the 2023 California Water Safety Summit, and the community at large acknowledge that drowning is a complex issue and that progress in reducing the burden and occurrence of fatal and non-fatal drowning requires collaboration between different sectors and stakeholders with diverse perspectives and approaches;
WHEREAS, the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego and the California Water Safety Coalition, is commended, for their efforts to prevent drowning and promote water safety in San Diego and the State of California; NOW THERFORE
BE IT PROCLAIMED, by the City Council, that this Council, for and on behalf of the people of San Diego, does hereby proclaim May 2023 to be “WATER SAFETY AND DROWNING PREVENTION MONTH” in the City of San Diego.
