New Jersey-2024-SJR27-Introduced

A Joint Resolution designating the third full week in May as "Roxie's Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children" in New Jersey.

Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more children ages one to four die from drowning than from any other cause of death other than birth defects and drowning was the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 18 and under from 2010 to 2019; and

Whereas, The CDC estimates that for every child who dies from drowning, another eight receive emergency room care for non-fatal water-related injuries; and

Whereas, Based on data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics, most drownings in children ages one to four occur in swimming pools with adults nearby; and

Whereas, Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, especially to children without close adult supervision; and

Whereas, Lifeguards are meant to enforce the rules of shared pools and react in emergency situations, not directly supervise each child in the water, which is the responsibility of each child's parent or guardian; and

Whereas, Children, especially those under age five, should always be under close adult supervision when swimming, regardless of where the children are swimming; and

Whereas, Lack of physical barriers around water contribute to a majority of drowning deaths; and

Whereas, A study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that learning to swim can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent for one to four year olds who take formal swimming lessons; and

Whereas, For children who do not know how to swim, a life jacket can be a life saving device when the child is near water; and

Whereas, Through utilizing a multitude of safety strategies to reduce risk, unintentional drowning deaths that occur among children can be prevented; and

Whereas, Two-thirds of drowning deaths occur between May and August and May is recognized as "National Water Safety Month," in the United States; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The third full week in May of each year is designated as "Roxie's Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children" to encourage counties, cities, and school districts to support national goals relating to drowning prevention.

2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and residents of this State to observe "Roxie's Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children" with appropriate activities and programs.

3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution designates the third full week in May of each year as "Roxie's Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children" to promote public awareness of strategies and best practices for the prevention of drowning among children. The resolution requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing the week and calling on public officials and the residents of New Jersey to observe the week with appropriate programs and activities.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children in this country, especially those under age five. Thousands of people in the United States, many of them being children, die each year from drowning under circumstances that are preventable. Additionally, nonfatal drownings can cause a number of long-term, significant cognitive and motor skill impairments. It is critical that public awareness is increased so that residents can take proactive measures to prevent children from drowning. By utilizing simple safety strategies to mitigate risk, such as ensuring pools are properly enclosed, providing close adult supervision whenever children are in the water, teaching children how to swim, and providing life jackets to children who cannot swim, unintentional drowning deaths among children can be prevented.