Advancing Water Safety: USSSA’s Support of Every Child a Swimmer Legislation to Provide Water Safety Education with School Enrollment
Drowning Prevention Flyer | Folleto sobre la prevención de ahogamientos (español) | Feyè sou Prevansyon Nwaye (Kreyòl)
Water safety is not just a seasonal concern—it is a year-round priority and a critical public health issue. Across the United States, drowning remains the leading cause of death for young children, with particularly high risks in states like Florida, where water is part of everyday life.
That reality is what makes the partnership between USSSA and Every Child a Swimmer so important. Together, we are working to ensure that every family has access to life-saving information and opportunities to learn essential water safety skills.
The First Step: Florida’s Groundbreaking Legislation
In 2021, Florida became the first state to pass the Every Child a Swimmer law—formally codified as Section 1003.225 of the Florida Statutes. This legislation marked a major milestone in drowning prevention efforts.
Beginning with the 2022–2023 school year, the law requires every public school in Florida to provide parents of newly enrolled students with information about:
- The importance of water safety education and swim lessons
- Local options for age-appropriate swim programs
- Opportunities to access lessons at free or reduced cost
This law is not a mandate requiring children to take swim lessons. Instead, it focuses on awareness—ensuring that every parent is informed and empowered to make decisions that could save their child’s life.
This approach reflects a powerful idea: education is the first and most scalable step toward prevention. Drowning is fast, silent, and preventable. Research consistently shows that formal swim lessons for children 1 to 4 years old can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.
Expanding Impact Across the Country
Following Florida’s leadership, similar legislation has now been passed in multiple states, including Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, New Mexico, New York, and California. These efforts reflect growing recognition that water safety education must be a national priority, not just a regional one.
Each new state that adopts this model brings us closer to a future where every child has the opportunity to learn to swim and stay safe around water.
USSSA’s Role and Commitment
USSSA is proud to support the legislative efforts of Every Child a Swimmer and to help amplify this life-saving initiative. As an organization dedicated to strengthening swim school communities and expanding access to quality instruction, USSSA recognizes that policy and practice must work hand in hand. Together with fellow partner Stop Drowning Now we have free flyers for distribution in English, Spanish, and Creole.
By supporting legislation like this, USSSA helps:
- Increase awareness among families at scale
- Connect communities to trusted swim education providers
- Promote equitable access to lessons through free and reduced-cost options
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to one simple but powerful goal: every child deserves the chance to learn how to swim.
USSSA remains committed to supporting these efforts, partnering with organizations like Every Child a Swimmer, and ensuring that families everywhere have the knowledge and resources they need to keep their children safe in and around water.
