III 

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; 


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•SRES 185 IS 

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; 


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•SRES 185 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Water Safety Month; 

4 (2) supports promoting awareness of water 

5 safety by increasing public education and awareness; 

6 (3) acknowledges the grief of families who have 

7 faced the loss of a loved one, and commends the 

8 families who, in their grief, choose to promote and 

9 educate the public on water safety; 

10 (4) encourages States, localities, and territories 

11 of the United States to— 


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•SRES 185 IS 

1 (A) support the goals and ideals of Na2 tional Water Safety Month by issuing a procla3 mation to designate May 2017 as ‘‘National 

4 Water Safety Month’’; 

5 (B) support the adoption of codes and 

6 standards that provide safety requirements that 

7 may decrease the incidence of drowning; and 

8 (C) engage in and encourage public aware9 ness campaigns, including campaigns that edu10 cate individuals on— 

11 (i) how to swim; 

12 (ii) layers of protection; and 

13 (iii) adult supervision; 

14 (5) recognizes the vital role that swimming and 

15 aquatic-related activities play in maintaining phys16 ical and mental health and enhancing quality of life; 

17 (6) encourages efforts to educate the public 

18 about water safety to prevent drownings and rec19 reational water-related injuries; and 

20 (7) understands the vital importance of commu21 nicating water safety rules and programs to families 

22 and individuals of all ages, including owners of pri23 vate pools, users of public swimming facilities, and 

24 visitors to waterparks. 

Æ 


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