Child Drowning Prevention

Drowning is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among young children in the U.S., California, and Orange County.

 Partners for Childhood Drowning Prevention is an initiative of the American Academy of Pediatrics-Orange County (AAP-OC). We are a broad, multi-sectoral partnership of pediatric health care, social service, and education professionals; community-based organizations; public and academic institutions; parents; and policy advocates.

Partners for Childhood Drowning Prevention was designed with three linked components: 1) Prevention of Drowning: Professional and Community Awareness Education and Engagement; 2) Foundations for Childhood Drowning Surveillance 2023-2024; and 3) Advocacy. The American Academy of Pediatrics-California and then joined by the California Alliance of YMCAs — Senate Bill 855 (Newman, Ch. 817, Stat. 2022: Childhood Drowning Data Collection Pilot Program) was chaptered into law. SB 855 requires the California Department of Public Health to produce a California Water Safety Action Plan for Children and a standardized electronic form for counties to use in reporting drowning statistics.