[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 331 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 331

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Drowning Prevention and 
                          Water Safety Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2009

   Mrs. Tauscher (for herself, Mr. Wolf, and Ms. Wasserman Schultz) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Drowning Prevention and 
                          Water Safety Month.

Whereas for children ages 1 to 4 and 10 to 14, drowning is the second leading 
        cause of unintentional injury and death;
Whereas on average, annually 3,600 injuries occur to children due to near 
        drowning incidents;
Whereas on average, of 2,725 children who were treated annually in an emergency 
        room for pool submersion, an estimated 10 percent sustained permanent 
        neurological injury;
Whereas between May and August, drowning deaths among children increase 89 
        percent;
Whereas in 2000, total drowning injuries cost the Nation over $16 billion;
Whereas 91 percent of the reported non-fatal drowning incidents for 2005 through 
        2007 and 89 percent of drowning fatalities for 2003 through 2005 for 
        children under age 5 occurred in a residential setting;
Whereas there is a need to educate individuals and to promote awareness within 
        society as to the causes of drowning and near drowning incidents;
Whereas State and local governments need to partner with policymakers, 
        educators, nonprofits, community leaders, and others to develop 
        strategies to prevent future drowning and near drowning incidents; and
Whereas the House of Representatives recognizes May 2009 as ``National Drowning 
        Prevention and Water Safety Month'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month 
        provides an opportunity to urge policymakers, educators, 
        nonprofits, community leaders, and others to educate the people 
        of the United States on drowning and near drowning prevention 
        and how to use primary and secondary prevention strategies to 
        reduce morbidity and mortality associated with drowning and 
        submersion injuries;
            (2) parents, caregivers, supervisors, and others should be 
        encouraged to be aware of the hazards associated with children 
        near swimming and water recreational facilities, use 
        appropriate prevention strategies, and be prepared with the 
        skills to save a child's life in the event of emergencies;
            (3) it is important to incorporate ``layers of 
        protection'', including active adult supervision, the use of 
        drain entrapment prevention devices and systems on pools and 
        spas to prevent entrapment, and the use of enclosures to 
        prevent small children from gaining unsupervised access to 
        pools and spas; and
            (4) the people of the United States, interested groups, and 
        State and local governments should promote awareness of, and 
        volunteer involvement in, National Drowning Prevention and 
        Water Safety Month.
                                 <all>