National Water Safety Month reminds families: Drowning is preventable – but often silent<\/h1>\n
PR Newswire<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
As Summer approaches, the Red Cross urges constant supervision and simple safety steps to save lives<\/i><\/p>\n
WASHINGTON<\/span>, May 14, 2026<\/span> \/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE\/ — May is National Water Safety Month, a time to remind families that drowning is preventable, yet it remains one of the leading causes of death for young children and people under 30.<\/p>\n Drowning rarely looks the way it does in the movies. Most people expect splashing or yelling\u2014but drowning is often silent and can happen in less than a minute, even in just a few inches of water.<\/p>\n Bystanders are often the first line of defense. Research shows drowning victims are most often rescued by people nearby, not trained professionals, simply because they are closest to the incident. More than 60% of bystander rescues happen before help arrives.<\/p>\n “Drowning is a leading cause of death for children, but it\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0have to be. Preventing drowning begins with water safety education,” said Connie\u00a0Harvey, Director of Aquatics Centennial Campaign and Survival Programs. “Studies show that 72% of Hispanic adults have never taken a swim lesson, and children are less likely to have proficient swimming skills,\u00a0but\u00a0it’s\u00a0never too late to learn to swim or how to be smart in, on, and around the water. There are free Spanish-language resources available from the American Red Cross for children and adults, so people of all ages can help prevent drownings.”<\/p>\n The American Red Cross urges families to stay actively engaged around water.\u00a0Don’t\u00a0just swim\u2014watch. Close, constant supervision can make the difference between life and death.\u00a0<\/p>\n WATER SAFETY TIPS<\/b>\u00a0<\/p>\n WHALE TALES FOR CHILDREN \u2013 NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH\u00a0<\/b>The Red Cross recently revamped its Longfellow’s WHALE Tales Water Safety for Children program and has now added the program in Spanish, completely translated and localized. The no-cost program helps children, from all backgrounds in kindergarten through 5th<\/sup> grade, learn vital water safety behaviors without having to be in or near the water. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS<\/b> Our Aquatics Centennial Campaign, launched in 2014 to recognize 100 years of Red Cross leadership in swimming and water safety, is active in more than 100 communities across the country. The program works to reduce drowning rates in locations where numbers are above the national average alongside valued community partners.<\/p>\n To date, the campaign has delivered\u00a0nearly 159,000\u00a0sets of swim lessons and certified 6,560 junior lifeguards,\u00a0lifeguards\u00a0and Water Safety Instructors\u00ae.\u202fWe’ve\u00a0also armed\u00a0nearly 24,000\u00a0parents and caregivers with water safety knowledge and\/or CPR skills. Learn more at\u00a0redcross.org\/centennialswim<\/a>.<\/p>\n GET STARTED TODAY\u00a0<\/b>Go to\u00a0redcross.org\/watersafety<\/a> for swim program information and a variety of resources. The Red Cross Swim app can help children and adults learn with kid-friendly video and activities on mobile devices.\u202fDo your part. Be “water smart.”<\/p>\n About the American Red Cross:![\"American](\"https:\/\/mma.prnewswire.com\/media\/335958\/american_red_cross_logo.jpg\" "\\"American"){kind=logo}
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Educators, swim instructors, parents,\u00a0caregivers\u00a0and others can teach critical water safety lessons to children before the swim season kicks off and throughout the summer.\u00a0WHALE Tales are short, engaging and age-appropriate lessons that cover important water safety topics\u00a0in different environments such as pools, waterparks, oceans, lakes and rivers.\u00a0The free downloadable resources include lesson plans, course presentations and engaging materials such as videos and activity sheets and can be accessed at\u00a0redcross.org\/WHALEtales<\/a>. If\u00a0you’re\u00a0a parent or caregiver\u00a0teaching\u00a0your own children,\u00a0visit\u00a0redcross.org.watersafetyforkids<\/a>.<\/p>\n
<\/i><\/b>The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit <\/i>redcross.org<\/a><\/i>\u00a0or <\/i>CruzRojaAmericana.org<\/a><\/i>, or follow us on social media.<\/i><\/p>\n