[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 185 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 185

Recognizing and expressing support for the goals and ideals of National 
                          Water Safety Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 7, 2017

  Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Thune, and Mr. Nelson) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
               on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing and expressing support for the goals and ideals of National 
                          Water Safety Month.

Whereas, according to the 2016 report of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 
        there were estimated averages of--

    (1) 5,600 pool- or spa-related nonfatal drowning injuries treated at a 
hospital emergency department during each of the 2013 through 2015 calendar 
years; and

    (2) 367 pool- or spa-related nonfatal or fatal drowning injuries 
involving children younger than 15 years old during each of the 2011 
through 2013 calendar years, with 77 percent of those injuries involving 
children younger than 5 years old;

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning 
        is--

    (1) the leading cause of unintentional death in the United States among 
children 1 through 4 years old; and

    (2) the second-leading cause of unintentional death in the United 
States among children 5 through 14 years old;

Whereas drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury or 
        death in the United States, and every day, approximately 10 individuals 
        die from unintentional drowning, 2 of whom are children 14 years old or 
        younger;
Whereas the goal of National Water Safety Month is to prevent or reduce the 
        number of unintentional drowning-related injuries and deaths in pools 
        and open water venues;
Whereas the recreational water industry, as represented by the organizations 
        involved in the National Water Safety Month Coalition, has contributed 
        to that goal by--

    (1) developing, through codes and standards, safe public swimming 
facilities and residential pools and spas; and

    (2) providing aquatic programs and public awareness relating to 
unintentional accidents in pools and open water venues;

Whereas unintentional drowning deaths that occur each year, especially of 
        children under 5 years old, can be prevented by teaching children to 
        swim, by using barriers and other devices that aid in preventing access 
        to areas where drowning could occur, and especially by providing 
        constant adult supervision without distraction;
Whereas each public pool and spa in the United States should be in compliance 
        with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 8001 
        et seq.), which was signed into law on December 19, 2007, and requires 
        all public pools to install safe drain covers that help prevent 
        entrapment;
Whereas each residential pool and spa in the United States should be built and 
        maintained in accordance with the guidelines described in that Act or 
        the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, which a State or locality 
        may adopt through building codes and standards;
Whereas \2/3\ of drowning deaths occur during May through August; and
Whereas, for the tenth consecutive year, May has been recognized as National 
        Water Safety Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Water Safety 
        Month;
            (2) supports promoting awareness of water safety by 
        increasing public education and awareness;
            (3) acknowledges the grief of families who have faced the 
        loss of a loved one, and commends the families who, in their 
        grief, choose to promote and educate the public on water 
        safety;
            (4) encourages States, localities, and territories of the 
        United States to--
                    (A) support the goals and ideals of National Water 
                Safety Month by issuing a proclamation to designate May 
                2017 as ``National Water Safety Month'';
                    (B) support the adoption of codes and standards 
                that provide safety requirements that may decrease the 
                incidence of drowning; and
                    (C) engage in and encourage public awareness 
                campaigns, including campaigns that educate individuals 
                on--
                            (i) how to swim;
                            (ii) layers of protection; and
                            (iii) adult supervision;
            (5) recognizes the vital role that swimming and aquatic-
        related activities play in maintaining physical and mental 
        health and enhancing quality of life;
            (6) encourages efforts to educate the public about water 
        safety to prevent drownings and recreational water-related 
        injuries; and
            (7) understands the vital importance of communicating water 
        safety rules and programs to families and individuals of all 
        ages, including owners of private pools, users of public 
        swimming facilities, and visitors to waterparks.
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