Karen Cohn Discusses Water Safety on Melissa in the Morning

With the Fourth of July holiday approaching and families heading to pools, lakes, and vacation rentals, WICC’s Melissa in the Morning invited The ZAC Foundation’s Co-Founder Karen Cohn to share guidance on keeping families safe around the water.

The conversation was sparked by a moment from Melissa’s own weekend: her seven-year-old son refused to jump off a boat into open water without a life jacket, even when his mother was ready to let him skip it. Karen used the story to underscore a core message, that open water presents risks very different from a pool, and that even strong swimmers need layers of protection.

Karen covered several key precautions: constant adult supervision and never swimming alone; barriers like isolation fencing and door alarms around backyard pools; swim classes and CPR training for children and adults; drain safety awareness; and U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets in open water.

Karen also urged families heading to rental properties this summer to check for pool barriers before arriving. Many drownings among young children happen during unplanned swim time, when adults believe the swim day is done. For pool parties, she recommended hiring a lifeguard or designating adults to take turns watching the water, without phones or distractions, for set periods of time.

Tune in for the full segment at WICC.