New parents in New York will receive drowning prevention training before leaving the hospital

New York State has passed a first-of-its-kind legislation that will require new parents to receive drowning prevention training before leaving the hospital with their babies. The new legislation was proposed by the New York Water Safety Coalition (NYWSC) and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Feb. 14 under Senate Bill S.3608-A (Webb)/Assembly Bill A.4987-A (Pheffer Amato), in an effort to reduce infant and child drowning deaths.

Now, parents will watch a mandatory video about the dangers of drowning, which will provide the information they need not only to protect their own children but others in their care. A sample video can be seen here, and at less than 10 minutes long, it’s not a bad idea for anyone to watch at any time, because we can all use a quick refresher from time to time. 

Drowning can happen within seconds, and it’s never something to take lightly. ICYDK, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5, and the second leading cause of death for children between 5 and 14 after vehicle crashes.

And while many think of drowning as occurring in pools, lakes, or other large bodies of water, the agency reports that 25 children per year in the U.S. die in buckets filled with water or other liquids, such as when parents are washing their cars or mopping their floors. Other high-risk items include toilets, sinks, and fish bowls, as well as tubs and hot tubs, of course.

Upon the bill being passed into law, the US Swim School Association (USSSA) reports that the NYWSC is also working towards the passage of Senate Bill S.5815 (Mannion)/Assembly Bill A.6205 (Reyes), which would create a statewide drowning prevention public awareness campaign, another step that will help save lives across the state. As of June 2023, the bill has already passed through the Senate with unanimous support and is waiting for a full vote on the Assembly Floor.

Here’s hoping other states will promptly follow New York’s lead and pass similar legislation, especially ahead of the summer months when more families will be in pools, lakes, oceans, and other bodies of water. Drowning deaths are 100% preventable, and it takes every adult to help ensure no family has to endure such senseless loss.