Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Introduce Resolution Recognizing World Drowning Prevention Day
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced a resolution in recognition of World Drowning Prevention Day. The resolution highlights the urgent global crisis of drowning, which claims over 236,000 lives every year, and calls for concrete action to save lives through evidence-based prevention strategies.
“Drowning takes hundreds of thousands of lives annually, with devastating consequences for families and communities around the world,” said Rep. Omar. “It is also one of the most preventable public health tragedies we face. With the right tools, training, and resources, we can and must stop these needless deaths.”
Drowning remains the number one cause of unintentional death for children under five years old, but if we all unite to increase the water safety around our kids and our communities, we can change that heartbreaking reality and save countless lives,” said Wasserman Schultz. “This resolution to support the goals and ideals of World Drowning Prevention Day, helps lift up and focus those efforts, and pushes the United States to take a lead in proven drowning prevention interventions.”
Drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional injury death globally and ranks among the top 10 causes of death for children and young people aged 1 to 24 in every region. In high-income nations like the United States, drowning rates remain disproportionately high among certain age groups and racial and ethnic minority communities, a reflection of systemic inequalities in access to water safety, swimming education, and emergency response. Climate change is escalating the threat, as more communities are impacted by floods, where drowning is the leading cause of death.
Rep. Omar’s resolution builds on the United Nations General Assembly’s 2021 action declaring July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day, and joins over 100 countries in recognizing the need for stronger global commitments to water safety.
You can read the full resolution here.