Press Releases
WASHINGTON — As temperatures hit historic highs this week and Americans across the country flock to cool off in the water, Congressmen Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Don Bacon (NE-02) have introduced a bipartisan resolution to establish a “National Learn to Swim Week,” which would begin each fourth Sunday of June.
Roughly 4,000 people fatally drown in the United States each year – a total that numbers 11 unintentional deaths per day. Children are especially threatened while on the water: Drownings are the leading cause of death among kids aged 1 to 4, the second-leading cause for ages 5 to 14. Yet according to the National Institutes of Health, swimming lessons alone can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 88 percent.
Norcross and Bacon’s resolution calls on schools, youth organizations, and government to support and promote swimming lessons and back the United States National Water Safety Action Plan, which emphasizes knowledge of threats in and around water, life jacket use, and other water safety measures.
“Swimming, kayaking, and other water recreation have been a huge part of my active lifestyle,” Norcross said. “Spending time on the water is fun and healthy, and while it does come with risk, those issues are almost entirely preventable with the right training. I appreciate my friend Congressman Bacon for working across the aisle to set up more communities for success around water.”
“Every child should have the opportunity to learn basic swimming and water-safety skills,” Rep. Bacon said. “With thousands of fatal and nonfatal drownings each year, we should be doing more to support swim instruction, public awareness, and community partnerships that prevent these tragedies. I’m glad to join Rep. Norcross in introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize National Learn to Swim Week and promote a skill that can save lives.”
Full text of Norcross and Bacon’s resolution can be found here.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
“The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) fully supports the introduction of this important Resolution.?The NDPA has been promoting swim lesson for years because we know learning to swim is an important way to prevent drownings in both pools and open bodies of water,” Alissa Magrum, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance said. “The statistics supporting this life saving skill are quite clear -- formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 88%. Proof positive that this Congressional Resolution is well timed as we start swim season around the country.”
“Learning to swim is an essential, lifesaving skill that is proven to reduce the drowning risk among young children by 88%,” Karen Cohn, co-founder of the ZAC Foundation said. “With child drownings on the rise and a new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission underscoring the alarming risk of childhood drowning, action has never been more urgent. We are grateful to Rep. Donald Norcross for introducing this congressional resolution that highlights the critical need to increase awareness of the importance of learning to swim — and to Rep. Don Bacon for his unwavering support and leadership in addressing the drowning crisis.”
“Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation applauds Congressman Norcross and Congressman Bacon for the introduction of this Congressional Resolution designating the 4th?Sunday in June as the start of?National Learn to Swim Week.?Learning to swim is not just a life skill. It is a lifesaving skill,” said Katey and Scott Taylor, founders of Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation. “Enrolling children in swim lessons is a critical and underutilized layer of protection especially when one considers that drowning remains the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4.?Swim season is now in full swing, and Abbey's Hope urges all parents to enroll their children in swim lessons to prepare for this season and beyond.”
"Drowning is the number 1 cause of death to children aged 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 4 to 15. Eleven people die each day from unintentional drownings in the United States.?Alarming statistics, no doubt,” Eric Lupton, CEO of Life Saver Pool Fence said.? “Ensuring everyone has access to swimming lessons along with other water safety ‘layer of protections’ like pool fencing and pool alarms will, most certainly, save lives.?Life Saver Pool Fence unequivocally supports this bipartisan Congressional Swim Lesson Resolution. We will support it this year and every year going forward."
“The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) strongly supports establishing National Learn to Swim Week as a meaningful step toward reducing drowning, a leading cause of death among young children,” Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance said. “We know that formal swim instruction and layers of protection save lives, and this effort helps raise awareness about the importance of access to swim lessons and water safety education for communities across the country.”
Roughly 4,000 people fatally drown in the United States each year – a total that numbers 11 unintentional deaths per day. Children are especially threatened while on the water: Drownings are the leading cause of death among kids aged 1 to 4, the second-leading cause for ages 5 to 14. Yet according to the National Institutes of Health, swimming lessons alone can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 88 percent.
Norcross and Bacon’s resolution calls on schools, youth organizations, and government to support and promote swimming lessons and back the United States National Water Safety Action Plan, which emphasizes knowledge of threats in and around water, life jacket use, and other water safety measures.
“Swimming, kayaking, and other water recreation have been a huge part of my active lifestyle,” Norcross said. “Spending time on the water is fun and healthy, and while it does come with risk, those issues are almost entirely preventable with the right training. I appreciate my friend Congressman Bacon for working across the aisle to set up more communities for success around water.”
“Every child should have the opportunity to learn basic swimming and water-safety skills,” Rep. Bacon said. “With thousands of fatal and nonfatal drownings each year, we should be doing more to support swim instruction, public awareness, and community partnerships that prevent these tragedies. I’m glad to join Rep. Norcross in introducing this bipartisan resolution to recognize National Learn to Swim Week and promote a skill that can save lives.”
Full text of Norcross and Bacon’s resolution can be found here.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
“The National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) fully supports the introduction of this important Resolution.?The NDPA has been promoting swim lesson for years because we know learning to swim is an important way to prevent drownings in both pools and open bodies of water,” Alissa Magrum, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance said. “The statistics supporting this life saving skill are quite clear -- formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among young children by 88%. Proof positive that this Congressional Resolution is well timed as we start swim season around the country.”
“Learning to swim is an essential, lifesaving skill that is proven to reduce the drowning risk among young children by 88%,” Karen Cohn, co-founder of the ZAC Foundation said. “With child drownings on the rise and a new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission underscoring the alarming risk of childhood drowning, action has never been more urgent. We are grateful to Rep. Donald Norcross for introducing this congressional resolution that highlights the critical need to increase awareness of the importance of learning to swim — and to Rep. Don Bacon for his unwavering support and leadership in addressing the drowning crisis.”
“Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation applauds Congressman Norcross and Congressman Bacon for the introduction of this Congressional Resolution designating the 4th?Sunday in June as the start of?National Learn to Swim Week.?Learning to swim is not just a life skill. It is a lifesaving skill,” said Katey and Scott Taylor, founders of Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation. “Enrolling children in swim lessons is a critical and underutilized layer of protection especially when one considers that drowning remains the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4.?Swim season is now in full swing, and Abbey's Hope urges all parents to enroll their children in swim lessons to prepare for this season and beyond.”
"Drowning is the number 1 cause of death to children aged 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children aged 4 to 15. Eleven people die each day from unintentional drownings in the United States.?Alarming statistics, no doubt,” Eric Lupton, CEO of Life Saver Pool Fence said.? “Ensuring everyone has access to swimming lessons along with other water safety ‘layer of protections’ like pool fencing and pool alarms will, most certainly, save lives.?Life Saver Pool Fence unequivocally supports this bipartisan Congressional Swim Lesson Resolution. We will support it this year and every year going forward."
“The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) strongly supports establishing National Learn to Swim Week as a meaningful step toward reducing drowning, a leading cause of death among young children,” Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance said. “We know that formal swim instruction and layers of protection save lives, and this effort helps raise awareness about the importance of access to swim lessons and water safety education for communities across the country.”
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