Safe At All Ages

Why is this a Priority?

While young children are overrepresented in drowning statistics and have rightly been a population of focus for prevention activities in California,18 drowning affects all ages. Compared to children, teenagers and young adults have different risk-taking behaviors, the circumstances of middle aged adult drowning such as body of water vary, and older adults have similarly high fatal drowning rates. As water activities change throughout the lifespan, so too does the risk for drowning. As such, prevention efforts need to be customized for specific life stages, accounting for variation in physical, social, and mental development, life experience and cultural background, as well as mobility, propensity for risk taking behavior, and general health.

Several prevention strategies span multiple life stages, although focusing efforts on specific age groups is likely to increase effectiveness. For example, a learn to swim program for adults may be promoted differently than one for school-aged children; a campaign to encourage life jacket use might include separate messages for older adults and teenagers, and an education program about the risk of alcohol and swimming would frame the issue differently for young adults versus older adults.

Knowledge Gaps

Effective prevention efforts require understanding of the circumstances of drowning events, what strategies and approaches work best for different life stages, and what policies affect the issue.

A number of key data activities will provide foundational knowledge from which to develop new and update existing prevention initiatives.

Key Data Activities

Review of Best Practice Drowning Prevention Activities for Different Age Groups

Review programming currently offered to different age groups, synthesize learnings to establish best practice for life stage focused prevention efforts, especially for supervision, alcohol and drug use on or near the water, life jacket use, and water safety education and messaging. Understand how people with different cultural backgrounds perceive these activities and how they may use or not use these activities.

Improve Information on Circumstance

Establish the circumstances of drowning and non-fatal drowning for different life stages to understand the risk and the presence or lack of preventive factors involved.

Policy Analysis

Document all current alcohol-related regulation for jurisdictions with recreational water settings, and requirements and policies related to life jacket use both for boating and as a swim aid in open water and/or pools. Map current policies against best practice for the subject area to help inform advocacy efforts.

Key Action Areas:

Community Programs and Education

Age-Specific Programs

Design and deliver public education programs focused on specific life stages, for example children, adolescents, or older adults which also are culturally sensitive and appropriate.

Tailored Messages

Promote basic swim skills, life jackets, supervision, and avoiding alcohol and substance use as important prevention strategies for all ages, tailoring messages for different age groups to increase effectiveness.

Professional Training and Capacity

Inclusive Services and Programs

Ensure drowning prevention and first responder organizations have the training and capacity to serve all persons across the developmental spectrum, including neurodiverse individuals and persons with physical disability.

Educator Training

For those drowning prevention professionals involved in education programs, provide training in curriculum development and best practices for working with and instructing the age- group of focus.

Policy and Systems

Age-Specific Agenda Alignment

Partner to incorporate drowning prevention into other sectors focused on specific age groups such as those prioritizing children, adolescents, or older adults.

Routine Screening and Referral

Partner with California’s medical community to incorporate drowning prevention education and referral into routine screenings within  primary care.24 For example, well-child visits may include information on swim lessons and parent supervision, preventive health checks for older adults may include discussion of medical conditions that could increase drowning risk.

Policy Education and Enforcement

Improve education about and enforcement of current laws related to drowning prevention, including regulations related to alcohol, life jackets, and pool-barriers.

Action Plan Expanded