Thank you to our 2023 Summit Attendees, Sponsors, and Speakers!

2023 CA Water Safety Summit Recap

April 25 & 26, 2023 - San Diego, CA

Thanks to you, we did it!

Over two productive days, we came together to share what we know about the crisis of drowning, compare approaches to improve water safety, and commit to collaborating in a meaningful way going forward. We hope you came away inspired and motivated to not only continue this important work, but also double down on information-sharing, communication, and cooperation.

An important element of this Summit was the release of the California Water Safety Strategy. Download your copy today.

Download the Strategy

A packed house listening to keynote, Justin Scarr, from Royal Lifesaving Australia.

Justin Scarr and Dr. Julie Gilchrist catch up with Sponsors and attendees!

Nicole McNeil, President of the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego, holds up the San Diego Proclamation that was given to PDFSD & CWSC at the conclusion of the media event at the Summit. Also pictured, left to right: Megan Ferraro (The ZAC Foundation), Julie Lopicollo (The Jasper Ray Foundation), Rob Williams (CWSC Chair), Chris Carlson (The Ben Carlson Foundation).

Love the first California Water Safety Strategy. Launched today in San Diego. Congrats William Koon California Water Safety Coalition John Abdou Megan McGreal Ferraro et al.

For those into the water safety planning. This has some great ideas, structure and a clear set of priorities areas, and is accessible to a wide coalition of groups looking to extend their impact.

It’s not easy to manage and find a place for diverse interests while prioritising community and responding to burdens. William Koon et al. have done a great job.

Hoping to hear more about this World Conference on Drowning Prevention Perth, December 2023.

Justin Scarr | Keynote Speaker

CEO, Royal Life Saving Australia

Mr. Scarr is a global drowning prevention leader from Sydney, Australia. Justin’s many roles in the Australian and international drowning prevention communities are listed below, but he has special interest and expertise in multi-sectoral collaboration and strategy development and implementation for drowning prevention. Justin’s Keynote speech at the 2023 Summit reviewed the history, lessons and impact of the Australian Water Safety Strategy, exploring successes and challenges in light of the 2023 release of the California Water Safety Strategy. We were excited and honored to welcome Justin to San Diego!

A few of Justin’s drowning prevention credentials:

CEO of Royal Life Saving Australia, a peak national water safety organization in Australia
Chair of the Australian Water Safety Council, the multisectoral coalition of Australian drowning prenveiton groups charged with drafting and implementing the Australian Water Safety Strategy
Doctoral Researcher at the George Institute of Global Health
Convener of the World Conference on Drowning Prevention in Danang (2011), Penang (2015), Vancouver (2017), Durban (2019), and Perth (2023).
Drowning Prevention Commissioner, International Lifesaving Federation

Local Host - Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego

The Prevent Drowning Foundation (PDFSD) of San Diego provides a variety of drowning prevention and aquatic safety programs in the San Diego region. The Foundation’s main activities include:

Free aquatic education in third through fifth grade classrooms
Safety lectures to the military
Funding for learn to swim programs each year in partnership with the San Diego County YMCA and the San Diego Unified School District
“Bridge to the Beach” program designed to introduce youth to the ocean environment including recognition of rip currents and other beach safety education.

Learn more about the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego here!

The 2023 California Water Safety Summit is presented by the California Water Safety Coalition. Please direct questions and inquiries to: info@cawatersafety.org