Megan Ferraro Discusses Water Safety on NPR as Swim Season Begins

The ZAC Foundation’s Executive Director Megan Ferraro appeared on NPR’s All Sides with Amy Juravich on June 9, 2025, joining Columbus, Ohio, aquatics officials to discuss water safety as summer begins. Speaking alongside local pool managers and swim instructors, Megan shared critical drowning prevention strategies for Ohio families preparing for summer water activities.

Critical Safety Tips

Megan emphasized the importance of multiple layers of protection around water, including proper supervision, swim lessons for both children and parents, life jackets, secure pool fencing, and awareness of pool drain safety. She stressed that drowning prevention education should be as routine as fire safety education in our communities.

“Most importantly, parents, we want you constantly supervising your children any time they’re around open water,” Megan explained during the interview. “If your child doesn’t know how to swim, you should be within arm’s reach of them. If they do know how to swim, you still need to be watching them. The lifeguard is not the first layer of defense. Mom and Dad, it’s you.”

She also advocated for comprehensive water safety education and legislation that help protect families before they encounter water emergencies. The conversation underscored the urgent need for water safety awareness, particularly as drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4.

Listen to Megan’s full interview at WOSU Public Media for more comprehensive water safety guidance as families head into summer swimming season.