PARTNERS FOR CHILDHOOD DROWNING PREVENTION
An important part of our work is focused on water safety and drowning prevention!
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death among one-to four-year olds in the U.S., California, and here in Orange County. For every child drowning fatality, 14 survive. However, many of the children who survive experience lifelong disabilities that range from mild to severe. As pediatricians caring for these children, we know that the tragic loss of a child from drowning is preventable. One more drowning is one too many!
That’s why Clinic in the Park is a committed partner of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Orange County chapter (AAP-OC) and the Raise Foundation Partners for Childhood Drowning Prevention (PCDP) Initiatives.
The expanding partnership includes: continuous public education & awareness campaigns; educational tools and webinars for both pediatric health care and social service providers, educators and parents; advocacy that focuses on advocacy training for our next-gen pediatricians and promoting policy changes at the local and state levels in partnership with the California chapter of AAP and our local, state and national drowning prevention coalitions.
California Senate Bill 855 (Newman), Ch. 817, Stat. 2022: Child Drowning Data Collection Pilot Program, chaptered into law addresses a statewide drowning data collection gap. This program requires the CA Department of Public Health in the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish and administer the Child Drowning Data Collection Program using the data to create a water safety action plan. To learn more about SB 855, click here.
To watch the California State Senate Health Committee hearing on Senate Bill 855, click here. State Senator Dr. Richard Pan, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics was the Chair of the committee when it was heard.
After years of advocacy, this landmark legislation represents a major step forward for prevention of drowning. Senator Josh Newman shepherded Senate Bill 855 Childhood Drowning Data Collection Pilot Project through the legislative process with 5,000 California pediatricians at his side and every CA state senator and assembly member voting “aye.”
To read the AAP Policy AAP Policy Statement: Prevention of Drowning, click here.
To read the AAP Prevention of Drowning Technical Report (2021), click here.
To learn more about the PCDP Initiative, click here.
To read our 2023 Drowning Prevention newsletter, click here.
To review the “Partners for Childhood Drowning Prevention 2023-2024” report, click here.
Below is our Water Safety Flyer (English version):
Below is our Water Safety Flyer (Spanish version):
MORE WATER SAFETY RESOURCES
Water Safety for Families Video (English version)
Water Safety for Families Video (Spanish Version)
Rx for Water Safety Flyer (English version)
Rx for Water Safety Flyer (Spanish version)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Drowning Prevention Toolkit
Clinic in the Park Article: This Pool Season: One Drowning is One Too Many
Orange County Fire Authority Video: Tips for Purchasing a Properly Fitted Life Jacket
YouTube Video with Nicole Hughes
Nicole lost her beloved son Levi in a drowning accident. In the video, Nicole shares her story and an important message on drowning prevention.
Meow Meow Foundation
The California State Assembly has proclaimed that the third week in May is “Roxie’s Wish: Drowning Prevention Week for Children,” in order to encourage counties, cities and school districts to support national goals relating to drowning prevention. This initiative is in honor of Roxie Mirabelle Forbes who suffered a preventable drowning at a recreational summer camp. Roxie’s parents, Doug Forbes and Elena Matyas, established the Meow Meow Foundation to eliminate preventable childhood drowning and camp-related injuries, deaths and abuse.