Senate Resolution No. 2209
BY: Senator PARKER
RECOGNIZING May 2026, as Water Safety Month in the
State of New York
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
matters of vital public health importance and to encourage the citizens
of this great State to take meaningful action to protect the lives and
well-being of their families and communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
recognize May 2026, as Water Safety Month in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Water Safety Month; and
WHEREAS, Water Safety Month is an annual awareness campaign led by
the YMCA with support from the American Red Cross, National Drowning
Prevention Alliance, National Recreation and Park Association, and World
Waterpark Association, and is observed each year during the month of
May; and
WHEREAS, Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional
injury death for children ages one to fourteen years, and every day
approximately ten people die from unintentional drowning, of whom two
are children aged fourteen or younger; and
WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's 2024 Vital Signs report on drowning death rates in the
United States (MMWR, Vol. 73), drowning deaths among Black people
increased by 28 percent between 2019 and 2021, representing an alarming
and unacceptable trend demanding urgent public health attention; and
WHEREAS, Drowning death rates for Indigenous or Inuit people under
age 30 are two times higher than the rates for White people, with the
highest disparities among Indigenous or Inuit people ages 25 to 29,
whose rates are 3.5 times higher than White individuals of the same age;
and
WHEREAS, Drowning death rates for Black people under age 30 are 1.5
times higher than the rates for White people, with disparities highest
among Black children ages 5 to 9, whose rates are 2.6 times higher, and
ages 10 to 14, whose rates are 3.6 times higher than their White peers;
and
WHEREAS, In swimming pools specifically, Black children ages 10 to
14 drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White children, a staggering
disparity rooted in historical inequities in access to swimming
instruction and aquatic facilities; and
WHEREAS, These racial and ethnic disparities are influenced by
complex historical, structural, environmental, cultural, and social
factors, and can be addressed through state and municipal funding to
build and maintain public pools and through community-based programs
providing free or low-cost swimming lessons, developing culturally
appropriate water safety programs, and hiring diverse aquatic staff; and
WHEREAS, There are over 7,400 public swimming pools and 1,300 public
bathing beaches operated in New York State, and millions of patrons
visit these bathing facilities each year, making water safety education
a matter of urgent statewide concern; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 750 children drown each year nationally, and
375 of those drownings occur within 25 yards of a parent or other adult,
underscoring the critical need for vigilance and education among
caregivers; and
WHEREAS, Drowning can be significantly prevented through proven
interventions including swimming lessons, pool barriers and fencing,
active adult supervision, CPR training, and the use of approved life
jackets; and
WHEREAS, Organizations such as the YMCA promote a layered approach
to drowning prevention, and programs like the "Y splash" initiative,
campaigns such as phone down eyes up, emphasis for families to be
attentive "water watchers," and Pool Safety educational materials are
available to help New York families stay safe in and around the water;
and
WHEREAS, Water Safety Month provides an important opportunity for
schools, municipalities, community organizations, health departments,
and families across New York State to renew their commitment to water
safety education and drowning prevention; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize May 2026, as Water Safety Month in the State of New York; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body urges all New Yorkers; parents,
caregivers, educators, pool operators, and community leaders, to take
active steps during this month and throughout the year to promote water
safety, support swimming education, and work to eliminate the tragedy of
preventable drowning; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the YMCA, the American Red Cross, the New York State
Department of Health, and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance.
