Designates the month of June of every year, "Dry Drowning Awareness Month."

SJR125

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 125

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates the month of June of every year, �Dry
Drowning Awareness Month.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution

designating the month of
June of each year as �Dry Drowning Awareness Month.�

Whereas,

�Dry drowning� and �secondary drowning� are rare but deadly submersion injuries
that can cause death well after a person, who is often a young child, has
ingested water, such as during time in a swimming pool; and

Whereas,

Dry drowning and secondary drowning are caused by ingesting a small
amount of water, through the nose or mouth.� In dry drowning, that water causes
a spasm in the person�s airway, causing it to close up.� In secondary drowning,
that water gets into the person�s lungs and causes inflammation or swelling of
the lung tissue that makes it difficult or impossible for the person�s body to
exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide; and

Whereas,

Dry drowning usually occurs soon after a person exits the water, but a person
experiencing secondary drowning can exhibit symptoms up to 24 hours after the
water is ingested.� Both dry drowning and secondary drowning can cause trouble
breathing, and in the worst case, can be fatal; and

Whereas,

People may not recognize the warning signs of dry drowning or secondary
drowning, because the symptoms are generally also symptoms of other maladies;
and

Whereas,

Those symptoms include coughing; increased �work of breathing,� where the
person�s body is working hard to breathe; sleepiness; forgetfulness, or change
in behavior; and vomiting; and

Whereas,�

Dry drowning and secondary drowning can be prevented in the same
manner as any other kind of drowning � through water safety measures.� Children
should take swimming lessons in order to become comfortable and skilled at
moving around in water, children should be closely supervised while in and
around the water, pool safety rules should be enforced, and parents and other
adults should practice other water safety measures, including having children
wear flotation devices in and around water; and

Whereas,

It is fitting and proper, as a matter of public health, to designate the month
of June of each year, �Dry Drowning Awareness Month�; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� The month of June each
year is designated as �Dry Drowning Awareness Month� to promote awareness about
the danger of dry drowning, and to familiarize the public with symptoms of dry
drowning.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing �Dry
Drowning Awareness Month� in New Jersey and call upon public officials and the
people of this State to observe the month with appropriate programs and
activities.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution
designates the month of June of
each year as �Dry Drowning Awareness Month� in New Jersey, and respectfully
requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the month
and calling on public officials and the people of New Jersey to observe the month
with appropriate programs and activities.

�����
Dry drowning and secondary drowning are rare
but deadly submersion injuries that can cause death well after a person, who is
often a young child, has ingested water, such as during time in a swimming
pool.� Dry drowning and secondary drowning are caused by ingesting a small
amount of water, through the nose or mouth.� In dry drowning, that water causes
a spasm in the person�s airway, causing it to close up.� In secondary drowning,
that water gets into the person�s lungs and causes inflammation or swelling of
the lung tissue that makes it difficult or impossible for the person�s body to
exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide; and dry drowning usually occurs soon after
a person exits the water, but a person experiencing secondary drowning can
exhibit symptoms up to 24 hours after the water is ingested.� Both cause
trouble with breathing, and in the worst case, can be fatal.� Broader awareness
of the causes and symptoms of dry drowning and secondary drowning will save
lives, especially during the busy summer season when family fun oftentimes
revolves around water activities.