“Water Safety” Senate Bill S2207: How to Get Involved.

We have kicked off our partnership with Surfrider Foundation,  Laru Beya and Patagonia. Our organizations passionately came together to support a bill that will mandate watersafety instruction in schools (Senate Bill S2207// Assembly Bill A728) Tell your elected official that water safety instruction should be mandatory across schools in NY state! You can do so or learn more about this initiative through the LINK IN BIO or at Laru Beya Collective.

Drowning is a global health crisis and an average of 10 lives a day are lost in the United States due to
drowning deaths. BIPOC children die from drownings at a much higher rate than white children. Systemic racism, racist stereotypes, and fear passed down from generation to generation are some of the reasons why many BIPOC children don’t know how to swim. In the United States, segregation as well as past and present laws kept BIPOC communities from enjoying swimming or learning how to swim at public swimming pools and beaches.

This history of bias has led to the lack of representation of BIPOC people in swimming and aquatic
activities. The perpetuation of racist myths like “Black people can’t swim” or “Black people can’t float,” further enables a bias that has resulted in the unnecessary loss of lives. A fear of water also prevents access to the joy that comes from a connection to water, the ocean and nature. It is our belief that increasing safe access and enjoyment of our waterways will also foster a responsibility and desire to protect these valuable resources.

Support Senate Bill S2207. We believe that water safety education is an essential right for all!