New York Post: Summer may be ending, but water safety is more important than ever

Karen shared her important message in a recent article in New York Post, Summer may be ending, but water safety is more important than ever.

This summer saw a significant rise in drownings across the U.S. and locally in the tri-state area, driven by unsupervised access to pools, a lack of barriers, the lifeguard shortage, and dangerous currents.

New York City alone has had six fatalities at city beaches, the highest since 2019. In Suffolk County, Long Island, backyard pool drownings also spiked, with 10 reported fatalities. New Jersey’s beaches and pools have similarly experienced tragic drownings.

According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4, and the rates have increased by 28% since 2019. Black communities are disproportionately affected, with drowning rates rising 28% for Black individuals during the same period. An alarming 40 million American adults lack basic swimming skills, with barriers like cost and lack of access exacerbating the problem in marginalized communities.

Read Karen’s full piece in the New York Post.