Res. No. 872 Title Resolution recognizing the month of June 2003, and the month of June of every year thereafter, as Water Safety Month in the City of New York and urging all New Yorkers and visitors, who plan to be near any water source, to apply water safety measures to prevent drownings and water-related injuries. Body By Council Members Felder, Jackson, Nelson, Quinn, Sanders, Seabrook, Vallone and Vann Whereas, The City of New York is home to a multitude of beaches and pools which provide free recreation and enjoyment for millions of New Yorkers and visitors each year; and Whereas, The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation manages 14 miles of beaches and 53 outdoor pools located throughout the City's five boroughs; and Whereas, In order to keep the beaches and pools safe, the City's Department of Parks and Recreation hires and trains a lifeguard staff which supervises the public use of the City's beaches and pools; and Whereas, Recreation on boats and jet-skis and at beaches and pools, as well as fishing, can be fun, enjoyable and healthy activities so long as individuals practice water safety; and Whereas, According to the United States Army Corps of Engineers' National Water Safety Program, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths for persons 15 through 44 years of age; and Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children aged 1 through 14 years; and Whereas, The CDC reported that in the year 2000, 3,482 people unintentionally drowned in the United States, an average of 9 people per day, and that more than 75% of the drownings occurred among males; and Whereas, Statistics from the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control indicate that the drowning rate among African-Americans is approximately 1.4 times that among whites; and Whereas, According to the United States Army Corps of Engineers' National Water Safety Program, most drowning victims had no intention of being in water, such as boaters and individuals who are fishing, and drown within 10-30 feet of safety; and Whereas, Exercising water safety measures can prevent drownings and water-related injuries and ensure that fun does not unnecessarily turn into tragedy; and Whereas, Individuals who plan to be near any water source - particularly near pools, rivers, and the ocean - are urged to exercise water safety measures recommended by the American Red Cross, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the American Medical Association; and Whereas, The recommended water safety measures include, but are not limited to, taking a boating course to learn about navigation rules, emergency procedures and the effects of wind, water conditions and weather, developing a float plan so that anytime you go out in a boat you would give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone, learning how to swim if you intend to play or work around water, wearing a properly fitted Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating and fishing, never mixing alcohol and swimming since alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm, always practicing the "buddy system" and never swimming alone, swimming only in supervised areas, always obeying all rules and posted signs and entering feet first into water if you do not know the depth, paying attention to local weather conditions and forecasts and stop swimming and boating at the first indication of bad weather since water conducts electricity, not taking chances by over estimating your swimming skills, swimming only in designated swimming areas, never leaving a child unobserved around water including bathtubs and sinks, and knowing how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies; and Whereas, The Council of the City of New York believes that the month of June 2003, and the month of June of every year thereafter, should be designated as Water Safety Month to serve as a reminder of the vital importance of water safety as we approach warm weather months; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes the month of June 2003, and the month of June of every year thereafter, as Water Safety Month in the City of New York and urge all New Yorkers and visitors, who plan to be near any water source, to apply water safety measures to prevent drownings and water-related injuries. RC 3-18-03 LS # 1355 |1013|