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
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.