Recognizing May 2026, as Water Safety Month in the State of New York

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.