This webpage contains information on the process and people who developed the Plan, including links to Newsletters and presentations issued prior to release on June 29, 2023. Contact links for participation in the development phase have been deactivated.
Creating a Water Safety Plan for the U.S. is a big task. We are ready for the challenge.
We believe that capturing the knowledge and experience of water safety stakeholders across the United States is essential in creating a National Water Safety Plan which is comprehensive, realistic, and executable.
The World Health Organization recommends that all countries create a Water Safety Plan which addresses the nation’s drowning problem. A Steering Committee has been formed to guide the development of this Plan, but it will take all of us, pulling together, to create and execute a Plan which transforms water safety in the U.S. to help save lives, now and for generations to come.
We believe that capturing the knowledge and experience of water safety stakeholders across the United States is essential in creating a National Water Safety Plan which is comprehensive, realistic, and executable.
The World Health Organization recommends that all countries create a Water Safety Plan which addresses the nation’s drowning problem. A Steering Committee has been formed to guide the development of this Plan, but it will take all of us, pulling together, to create and execute a Plan which transforms water safety in the U.S. to help save lives, now and for generations to come.
Click for Summary Document
A Townhall Webinar was conducted on July 13, 2022
It includes progress to date, a list of Blue-Ribbon Panel members, and a Q&A session.
Click HERE for the slides
Click HERE to view a 31- minute recording
It includes progress to date, a list of Blue-Ribbon Panel members, and a Q&A session.
Click HERE for the slides
Click HERE to view a 31- minute recording
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Meeting the Challenge
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn
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Focus Areas
Data / Public Health Surveillance This group will focus on what is needed to develop comprehensive drowning data surveillance to inform prevention of fatal and nonfatal drownings. This will allow communities and key groups, including lifeguards, to better identify risk groups and develop and monitor data driven prevention interventions. Click for Working Group Participants 
Rescue / CPR
This group will identify what is needed to promote and improve Rescue and Resuscitation of the drowning victim by laypersons, lifeguards and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Click for Working Group Participants |
Supervision / Lifeguards This group will focus on how to improve protection and supervision of those near and in all types of open waters, pools, and around the home by parents, group leaders and lifeguards. This includes the development of minimum standards, developing recommendations on how to increase the public’s use of lifeguarded facilities, a review of emerging drowning prevention technology and workforce planning. Minimum standards will include supervision, lifeguard training, recertification, and more. Given the wide range of water hazards, sub-working groups may be established to address the complexities of this issue. Click for Working Group Participants 
Barriers, Entrapment and Electrical Safety
This group will identify ways to increase the use of fencing, barriers, alarms, and emerging technologies that reduce unsupervised access to water. This includes a comprehensive review of standards, codes, regulations, and legislation. Click for Working Group Participants |
Life Jackets / Personal Flotation Devices and Other Flotation
This group will focus on how to increase the use of Coast Guard approved life jackets by boaters, as well as by those recreating in or near the water. Click for Working Group Participants 
Water Safety / Water Competence / Swimming Lessons This group will identify needed priorities among the components of water competency including development of standards, policies/legislation and implementation models for all ages. Water competency refers to swimming competencies, water smart behaviors and attitudes, hazard recognition, and self-assessment.[1] Click for Working Group Participants |
The Process
The creation of the Plan is a 3-stage process which will occur over a two-year period.
Activity: Review existing national plans to inform a framework for the U.S. plan
Status: Complete
Outcome: Development of a framework to support a 10-year plan focusing on six evidence-based drowning prevention strategies that lays out what a model water safety state, county and community should look like. Progress towards those models to be assessed every every 5 years.
Status: Complete
Outcome: Development of a framework to support a 10-year plan focusing on six evidence-based drowning prevention strategies that lays out what a model water safety state, county and community should look like. Progress towards those models to be assessed every every 5 years.
Activity: Establish six focus areas to identify best practices, data and gaps at national, state, and community levels to guide goals, objectives, and actions for recommended models at all levels.
Status: Complete: click to download Scope of Work for focus areas
Status: Complete: click to download Scope of Work for focus areas
Activity: Convene a high-level expert panel to finalize the plan
Status: In Progress
Status: In Progress
How to Get Involved
Your involvement will make the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan a success.
Help by contributing to a Working Group as a key informant or reviewer. Help promote the development process to ensure we reach and include the input of water safety stakeholders at all levels across the country. Help fund the development of the Plan.
Help by contributing to a Working Group as a key informant or reviewer. Help promote the development process to ensure we reach and include the input of water safety stakeholders at all levels across the country. Help fund the development of the Plan.
PARTICIPATE – click HERE to complete our engagement survey and indicate your interest. (Survey no longer active.)
FUND – click HERE to talk with us about supporting the development efforts. (Link for development phase no longer active. If you are interested in supporting the implementation phase, please contact us HERE.)
STAY INFORMED – click HERE if you’d like to receive Newsletters after the Plan release on June 29
- click HERE for April 2023 Newsletter
- click HERE for January 2023 Newsletter
- - click HERE for October 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for July 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for April 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for January 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for October 2021 Newsletter - click HERE for July 2021 Newsletter
- click HERE for April 2021 Newsletter
- click HERE for December 2020 Newsletter
- click HERE for Scope of Work for Focus Areas
STAY INFORMED – click HERE if you’d like to receive Newsletters after the Plan release on June 29
- click HERE for April 2023 Newsletter
- click HERE for January 2023 Newsletter
- - click HERE for October 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for July 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for April 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for January 2022 Newsletter
- click HERE for October 2021 Newsletter - click HERE for July 2021 Newsletter
- click HERE for April 2021 Newsletter
- click HERE for December 2020 Newsletter
- click HERE for Scope of Work for Focus Areas
Funders
Water Safety USA thanks the following organizations and individuals for their financial support towards development of the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan.
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American Red Cross
Corp of Engineers Natural Resources Education Foundation David Bell Linda Quan Nagi Smartpool National Drowning Prevention Alliance |
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance
Safe Kids Worldwide The ZAC Foundation United States Lifesaving Association YMCA of the USA |
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee for the National Water Safety Action Plan is made up of a passionate group of stakeholders and influencers from organizations with water safety and drowning prevention as part of their mission. The Steering Committee is charged with providing strategic oversight and guidance in the development of the action plan, including supporting the activities of the working groups.
Committee Members
Dr. Linda Quan, Pediatrician and Researcher, American Academy of Pediatrics
Connie Harvey, Director of the Aquatics Centennial Initiative, American Red Cross
David Bell, Aquatics Subcommittee, Boy Scouts of America
Rebecca Wear Robinson, Founder and Former President, Make the Minute Matter
Adam Katchmarchi, Executive Director, National Drowning Prevention Alliance
Morag MacKay, Director of Research, Safe Kids Worldwide (Committee Chair)
Megan Ferraro, Executive Director, The ZAC Foundation
Tina Dessart, Program Director, USA Swimming Foundation
Lindsay Mondick, Director, Innovative Priorities – Movement Services, YMCA of the USA
Committee Members
Dr. Linda Quan, Pediatrician and Researcher, American Academy of Pediatrics
Connie Harvey, Director of the Aquatics Centennial Initiative, American Red Cross
David Bell, Aquatics Subcommittee, Boy Scouts of America
Rebecca Wear Robinson, Founder and Former President, Make the Minute Matter
Adam Katchmarchi, Executive Director, National Drowning Prevention Alliance
Morag MacKay, Director of Research, Safe Kids Worldwide (Committee Chair)
Megan Ferraro, Executive Director, The ZAC Foundation
Tina Dessart, Program Director, USA Swimming Foundation
Lindsay Mondick, Director, Innovative Priorities – Movement Services, YMCA of the USA
Please note that the photos used on this site are copyrighted and were provided by the American Red Cross, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the YMCA of the USA, Safe Kids Worldwide and the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Pool Safety Program.