Beyond the Surface: Promoting Water Safety for World Drowning Prevention Day
By Ring on July 18, 2025
Drowning has tragically become a growing public health concern in the United States in recent years. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning deaths have been on the rise nationwide after a reported downward trend in previous decades1. A CDC Vital Signs study released in June 2024 found that over 4,500 people died due to drowning each year from 2020-20222.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day. This global initiative aims to highlight the devastating impact of drowning on families and communities, while also promoting life-saving measures that can help curb this growing trend.
Drownings by the Numbers
Drowning is a serious public health issue in the United States, with tragic consequences for individuals and families. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance reports the following:
Q&A with Water Safety Expert Louis Campanello
Louis Campanello is a steadfast advocate for water safety in his community. As the Team Supervisor for the City of Tampa's Parks & Recreation Aquatics Department, which is part of the Neighbors Verified program, Campanello has dedicated over 25 years to educating the public and driving positive change around water safety and education. Campanello's experience and commitment make him a respected authority on how communities can better protect residents, especially vulnerable populations, from the risks of drowning.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about your background and how you came to oversee the aquatics department for the City of Tampa? What experiences or training led you to this role?
A: I started my career in water safety 28 years ago when I was 15. I started as a seasonal lifeguard and became a water safety instructor when I was 18 years old. I also got my AFO, which is Aquatics Facilities Operator, that is the maintenance portion of my certification. I worked my way up, over the years, to become a programming supervisor and when the former head of programming left, I approached the administration and told them I had an interest in overseeing both maintenance and programming.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your role and promoting water safety in your community? What motivates you in this line of work?
A: Making an impact within my community and seeing the difference. There are children who I’ve taught swim lessons to who have since become lifeguards, swim team kids, [and] junior lifeguards, and watching them make an impact is inspiring to me.
Q: How would you describe your department’s approach to water safety education and are there key strategies or tools you’ve found to be the most effective?
A: For us, it has been getting the message out there and making sure that swim lessons are affordable. We work with organizations in the community to secure grant money so that the majority of our swim lessons are given at a discounted rate or free. Being able to get the message out [about the importance of swim lessons] and getting rid of that barrier of affordability is key for [our department]. We’re in a state, a county, that is dealing with a high rate of drownings [so we aim to make an impact on preventing those drownings as best we can]. There are more community pools than ever before, so if we can find a way to put a dent in that by teaching people the ability to swim and show them how important it is to keep up with lessons, we hope to see a big difference not only in the community, but also worldwide.
Q: What are the most common drowning risks and hazards that people face in and around their homes?
A: To me, it’s lack of supervision. It only takes seconds [for a drowning to occur]. We all get distracted and there are so many stories of kids getting into the water and within a matter of seconds, tragedy strikes. For me, that is the number one issue. We take our eyes off for a few seconds and then that happens. Kids are quick to get into things and unfortunately water is one of those things that can [bring] tragedy within moments.
Q: What safety devices or home modifications do you advise people to have in place, especially in homes with young children, to create a safer environment around water?
A: Create barriers. Make sure your doors have alarms or motion sensor devices. Put a fence up around your pool. Create those barriers because if supervision is lacking, even for a second, there are obstacles to help prevent children from getting to the water.
Q: Are there any warning signs or behaviors that you encourage those supervising people in and around water to watch out for to indicate if someone is drowning?
A: First answer that comes to mind, is no there are not. Drowning is such a silent and quick event. People make drowning this theatrical thing in movies, but it’s silent and it’s scary. Until you know that your children can not only stay afloat on their own, but also know that they’re strong swimmers, I don’t think you can ever feel comfortable watching them around the water. I live in Florida and we have a pool at our house, and I don’t take my eyes off my kids for a second. [A drowning] can happen so quickly. Someone can bump their head. They can have a health episode. You never know, so it’s important to supervise children at all times.
Q: What are some common misconceptions about water safety that you work to correct?
A: Never swim alone. Swimming is a lifelong sport. It’s an activity that you’re working to get better at all the time. Just because you know all the strokes, doesn’t mean that you can swim full strength or full ability every time because you may not always have the endurance. I’ve been swimming my entire life, but even me as a certified lifeguard and a certified swim instructor, I should not be in the water by myself ever. Something can always happen.
Q: If you could give one key piece of water safety advice to the public, what would it be?
A: Make sure you understand that swimming is fun but can be dangerous. Before you go into a body of water, make sure you know that it is safe and clean. Try to stay knowledgeable. Going swimming is such an easy thing to do, especially in communities like mine, but you should really learn about water quality and water safety.
The sobering statistics and insights from water safety expert Louis Campanello underscore the urgent need for greater awareness and action around drowning prevention. While water can provide joy, relaxation, and exercise, it also poses serious risks, especially for young children and older adults. By heeding Campanello's advice - ensuring constant supervision, installing safety barriers, learning water rescue skills, and making swim lessons universally accessible - communities can work to reduce the number of tragic and preventable drownings.
To learn more about water safety and drowning prevention tips, visit: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety.html and https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/index.html.
Are you a part of an organization interested in making neighborhoods safer and more connected? Consider joining the Neighbors App as a Verified Account to connect and share safety information, community events, and more. Complete the sign up form today to start connecting with the community:https://communityprograms.ring.com/ps.
1. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0514-vs-drowning
2. https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/drowning
3. https://ndpa.org/parenttoolkit/BlogsParentToolkit/
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