The Basics
- Water safety education today prevents tragedies tomorrow. The earlier children learn to be safe around water, the longer those skills protect them.
- Emma’s Project works to distribute water safety cards, provide swimming lessons, and educate communities — because prevention is always better than response.
- Water safety is a life skill, not just a summer activity. Kids who learn to respect water — and love it safely — carry that knowledge into adulthood.
- Organizations, families, and communities all have a role to play. Every swim lesson funded, every safety card distributed, and every volunteer hour contributed saves lives.
- WEBSITE: Emma’s Project — learn more about our programs
- WEBSITE: Drowning Prevention Foundation
Action Items
- Enroll in swim lessons today — for your child, yourself, or a family member. Many YMCAs, community centers, and swim schools offer classes year-round.
- Support Emma’s Project’s mission by donating or volunteering. Your contribution directly funds swim lesson scholarships and water safety outreach. Donate here.
- Request or download a Water Safety Card from Emma’s Project to share at your child’s school, daycare, or pediatrician’s office.
- Follow the 5 Layers of Protection: swim lessons, pool barriers, close supervision, life jackets, and CPR. Read more on our Learn To Swim resource page.
- Tell a friend. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways to spread water safety awareness.
- FIND: Find Your Local YMCA — swim lessons available at locations nationwide
Dive Deeper
- The most effective drowning prevention strategies combine education, access, and policy. It is not enough to tell families to be careful — we must ensure that swim lessons are affordable and accessible to every child regardless of zip code or income.
- Research by the USA Swimming Foundation found that 70% of African American children and 58% of Hispanic children have little or no swimming ability, compared to 40% of white children. Addressing these disparities requires targeted investment in underserved communities.
- Water safety cards — like those distributed by Emma’s Project — have been shown to improve caregiver knowledge and change behavior around water. Simple tools, distributed at scale, create meaningful community-wide impact.
- RESEARCH: Effectiveness of Drowning Prevention Interventions (NIH)
- RESOURCE: National Water Safety Resources Library