CALIFORNIA WATER SAFETY STRATEGY

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Towards A California Where Everyone is Safe in and Around the Water

Each year in California, over 400 lives are tragically lost to drowning, and more than 1,200 non-fatal drowning incidents occur requiring hospitalization or a visit to an emergency department. These events are devastating and preventable. The California Water Safety Strategy (CA-WSS) is the state's first comprehensive plan to prevent drowning, developed through nearly two years of stakeholder consultation and research.

The CA-WSS aims to reduce drowning and aquatic injuries by fostering collaboration among local communities, government agencies, and organizations. The CA-WSS provides a robust framework that identifies eight water safety priorities, their knowledge gaps and priority action areas, and cross-cutting core values that reinforce action at every level. By establishing areas for multi-sectoral alignment, the strategy reflects decades of expertise and collaboration, inspiring and motivating individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to act.

Through a unified approach, we can and will make California’s coast, rivers, lakes, canals and swimming pools safer. As we work together to save lives, we acknowledge the dedication of those who have tirelessly advocated for drowning prevention, especially those who have lost loved ones. The California Water Safety Coalition is committed to continually refining the strategy and welcomes your feedback, please click the “Feedback” button below for more information.

Background

In the 2014 Global Report on Drowning, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that countries adopt national water safety frameworks to advance drowning prevention efforts. The United States National Water Safety Action Plan is due to release national level recommendations in 2023. Following the lead of this national effort and drowning prevention leaders in other countries, the California Water Safety Coalition engaged in a collaborative process to draft a strategy focused on the State of California. A few examples of drowning prevention strategies and action plans are below. (A)