HRES 331 IH
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 331
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 2, 2009
Mrs. TAUSCHER (for herself, Mr. WOLF, and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month.
Whereas for children ages 1 to 4 and 10 to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury and death;
Whereas on average, annually 3,600 injuries occur to children due to near drowning incidents;
Whereas on average, of 2,725 children who were treated annually in an emergency room for pool submersion, an estimated 10 percent sustained permanent neurological injury;
Whereas between May and August, drowning deaths among children increase 89 percent;
Whereas in 2000, total drowning injuries cost the Nation over $16 billion;
Whereas 91 percent of the reported non-fatal drowning incidents for 2005 through 2007 and 89 percent of drowning fatalities for 2003 through 2005 for children under age 5 occurred in a residential setting;
Whereas there is a need to educate individuals and to promote awareness within society as to the causes of drowning and near drowning incidents;
Whereas State and local governments need to partner with policymakers, educators, nonprofits, community leaders, and others to develop strategies to prevent future drowning and near drowning incidents; and
Whereas the House of Representatives recognizes May 2009 as ‘National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month’: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(1) National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month provides an opportunity to urge policymakers, educators, nonprofits, community leaders, and others to educate the people of the United States on drowning and near drowning prevention and how to use primary and secondary prevention strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with drowning and submersion injuries;
(2) parents, caregivers, supervisors, and others should be encouraged to be aware of the hazards associated with children near swimming and water recreational facilities, use appropriate prevention strategies, and be prepared with the skills to save a child’s life in the event of emergencies;
(3) it is important to incorporate ‘layers of protection’, including active adult supervision, the use of drain entrapment prevention devices and systems on pools and spas to prevent entrapment, and the use of enclosures to prevent small children from gaining unsupervised access to pools and spas; and
(4) the people of the United States, interested groups, and State and local governments should promote awareness of, and volunteer involvement in, National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month.
U.S. Congress - Text of H.Res.331 as Introduced in House Supporting the goals and ideals of National Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Month.
