Swim Strong Foundation at World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025
Watch the Full Presentation
Presenter: Shawn Slevin
Affiliations:
- Swim Strong Foundation, New York, USA
- Global Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Rotary Club, Brisbane, Australia
- Water Safety Coalition, New York City, USA
- Multi Agency Taskforce on Life Guards and Water Safety, New York City, USA
Presentation Title: Why Swimming Lessons Are Not Enough. Education is the Missing Link
Swim Strong Foundation founder Shawn Slevin presented at the 2025 World Conference on Drowning Prevention (WCDP) held in Egypt, November 21-23, 2025.
Conference Resources: WCDP 2025 Abstracts Book & PDF
Presentation Abstract
Key Points from the Presentation
The U.S. Water Safety Gap
The U.S. seems to be falling behind developed countries in regard to prevention and reduction of injury and loss of life due to drowning. In the U.S., if water safety is thought of at all, it is done so in a recreational context, leading to a lack of aquatic relevance to many families.
Since 2018, Swim Strong Foundation has been working to educate families more holistically about managing the risk of water in their daily lives from an environmental and climate action perspective.
Drowning is now the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5, with most dying in their own homes. Why? Because their parents don’t have a context for water risk at home in the same way they do understand about other risks (i.e. electrical safety).
Environmental and Climate Perspectives
Outdoors the nature, behavior, danger and risk profile of water differs widely from man-made to natural water environments. Understanding the differences enables us to appropriately assess each risk. Similarly, so for seasonal changes.
Climate action brings significantly more water related events. The Eastern Coast is seeing an extended hurricane season (once mid-June to Mid-October, it is now May through November). Major floods have impacted us globally across Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Europe, East and West Africa.
The “Know Before You Go!®” Educational Program
Given the above it is imperative that we all, having swim ability or not, look at water safety from a much broader perspective. Swim Strong Foundation created an educational program called “Know Before You Go®” which has 5 programs under its umbrella. We have reached more than 104,000 students in the New York City Department of Education grades 1-12.
A pre-quiz shows us the general understanding of the topic and post training quiz results show an increase in correct answers by 28-36%.
Prevention (barriers, fences etc.) and skills (learn to swim programs) are meaningful to those having access to them. But environmental knowledge of water as it relates to climate action is essential to help everyone safely navigate the risks of increased and at times, extreme, water in our lives.
About the Conference
The World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025 brought together experts, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world focused on drowning prevention and community safety.
Conference theme: “Waves of Change: Charting a Course to Safer Waters”
Partnership Opportunities
Swim Strong Foundation seeks global partners interested in implementing or adapting this proven water safety education model. For partnership inquiries or more information about programs:
Contact:
- Website: swimstrongfoundation.org
- Email: info@swimstrongfoundation.org
Learn More:
- Register for swimming lessons at NYC locations
- Explore “Know Before You Go!®” educational programs
- Volunteer as a swim instructor
- Support the mission through donations
Swim Strong Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City. Since 2006, we have been dedicated to reducing unintentional drowning deaths and water-based accidents through environmental water safety education and swimming instruction.