Brooklyn Prez Adams Looks to Increase Water Safety
Brooklyn Prez Eric Adams Looks to Increase Water Safety
The move comes after the drowning death of a 2-year-old child this weekend in Prospect Park.
In the past three weeks, there have been five drownings in New York City. And Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams says this is unacceptable.
According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children globally. But, Adams said there isn't nearly enough being done to create more awareness about water safety.
"I told my young son as a child not to approach strangers, but never anything about water safety," Adams said at a press conference Monday.
Joining Adams was Shawn Slevin, the founder of the Swim Strong Foundation. Her non-profit helps kids learn to swim. She said swimming classes are important, but awareness and education must begin with parents and in classrooms.
"Lack of swimming skills is a generational issue, so it's not surprising to see that you've got to tackle this by the horns," she said.
Borough President Adams and Slevin want to include water safety education in New York City schools as early as Pre-K. Adams also wants to make waterfronts, like the lake in Prospect park where the two year old drowned, safer to prevent future accidents.
